Beloved, it is daybreak on the hills. Dark glimmers and goes out in cloudy light. Faint on the marge of night the watchet dawn Lifts like a lily from a quiet water. And that within me which is consonant Is at its door to meet God’s infinite.
O Love, what banner shall we lift? And what Timbrel and incense bear? How shall we greet God’s day, his hills, his fire, and join their beauty? Voices reply that are no voice but breath: “Like beauty be thou nothing save his vesture.”
O you not only worshipful but dear Now have I learned not merely majesty But gentleness and friendlihood to be Your way of drawing near.
And late, upon a blue and yellow day, Wandering alone along a hill of Spring I caught another tender summoning, As if you were the comrad of my play.
How strange that I have looked so lone and far When it is you, Great Love, who lonely are. How I have sought you in your cosmic leisure When you are eager in my childish pleasure.
Why there is no dim doctrine to believe! Only to feel this touching at my sleeve.
Who is this that is so near? Not a face and not a voice. But a sense of someone here, Or of something not ourselves.
At no altar, from no ark---- Is it He? O wonderful In the day and in the dark To behold Him by no eyes.
Is it They? Ask us not who. As trees know when creatures pass, We may know when Those look through From another kind of day.
He and They within our sense. As we hope of bird or root: “Lo, it has intelligence!” Hidden ones may hope of us.
Brilliant and lone she sat Upon eternal height And veiled her face about. She was in fear of sin, She was in fear of deadly night, I saw her eyes peer out.
I saw her eyes peer out And knew she was divine, But oh, her stedfast, dreadful gaze And her importunate doubt. She did not make me word or sign Or turn away her face.
She did not make word or sign, But as she watched me err Her eyes grew cold like the dark star And her body ceased to shine. I could not breathe for the breath of her Was frost of Winter and fire of war.
Her body ceased to shine. I dare not let her die. I opened my heart to the sun And I breathed her breath for mine. Behold, that Inmost One was I, And I was the inmost one.
I opened my heart to the sun. O colour and line, and birth Of wonder and word and light! Through love and her I have won The earth within the earth And the sight that is more than sight.