Classic Poem

White and inscrutable, soundless, alone;
Over the beautiful building thy throne,
Stately, victorious, making thy claim;
Over the glorious writing thy name.

Calm, unassailable, fixed in thy seat;
Swords, unavailable, break at thy feet;
Kings in their palaces pale at thy sign;
Deep in their chalices freezes the wine.

Words can not reach to thee, backward they come;
Love stands beseeching thee, still thou art dumb;
Youth in its loveliness, babes of an hour,
Age with its loneliness, all are thy dower.

Thou, when thou findest one worn to the heart,
Then thou art kindest one, taking his part;
Men their Gethsemanes leave at thy call;
Thou, from their enemies, savest them all.

White and inscrutable, soundless, alone;
Over the beautiful building thy throne,
Stately, victorious, making thy claim;
Over the glorious writing thy name.

Calm, unassailable, fixed in thy seat;
Swords, unavailable, break at thy feet;
Kings in their palaces pale at thy sign;
Deep in their chalices freezes the wine.

Words can not reach to thee, backward they come;
Love stands beseeching thee, still thou art dumb;
Youth in its loveliness, babes of an hour,
Age with its loneliness, all are thy dower.

Thou, when thou findest one worn to the heart,
Then thou art kindest one, taking his part;
Men their Gethsemanes leave at thy call;
Thou, from their enemies, savest them all.