Classic Poem

Springs to the West a scarlet bird o'erhead,
Far-darting, circles, sways,
Then swift and straight — as if a spirit sped —
Divides the mellow haze.

The splendid clouds about her burn and glow,
Through liquid gold she glides,
On purple crests floats buoyant, or below
Sinks deep in lilac tides.

What Iris cliffs o'erhang her path, what towers,
White argent, crumble down,
And scatter shards and glitter sparks in showers:
One gems her like a crown.

So all the lambent distance lessening through,
With eager wings address'd,
She merges past man's sight into the blue
Beyond the blazing West.

Do Thou from whom we come, by whom perdure,
Our ways direct and bend,
That — past such pageants — in Thy splendour pure
They may dissolve and end!

Thy rumours fill creation's sounding hall,
Thine omens round us press;
We hear the holy rapture of Thy call
Through all life's close caress.

O speak incessantly in clouds and veils!
Speak, we have heard through these!
We know what message of all life exhales
In Thy sweet August breeze.

The almond blossoms in Thy breath; the red
Lies richer on the rose;
Earth yields up fragrant incense; where we tread
Baptismal water flows.

For Thou hast severally sanctified
And sanction'd all our days,
And dost in many sacraments abide
Thin-veil'd on all our ways.

A priestly chrism fills the scented air
Which brings Thy bridal kiss,
And Eucharistic feasts are dighted where
Thy board of plenty is.

But if the perfect joy of daily life
Some transient sorrow sears,
Thy holy unction falling on the strife
Melts pain to happy tears.

True joy transfigured knows no sense of loss,
The dead return in Thee;
Our star-bright crowns are shadow'd by no cross:
All's light from sea to sea.

Ah, one thing more, last gift and best, we wait!
Beyond all type and sign,
Teach us to issue out of Nature's gate
On Thine unveil'd Divine.

Pipes on the mountain shrilling, stars supreme
Calling along the height,
Lift us, uplift us, out of this high dream
Into true waking light!