Classic Poem

I had been lost and lonely, and the stars
Like dust in desert places had been whirled,
And even things of beauty had been bars
Between me and the Spirit-of-the-World.

For vainly, ever vainly, had I sought,
In many a lovely body's lily shrine,
Beauty of Spirit, till one morning brought
Such beauty in that lovely body of thine.

Then through thine eyes into thy soul I went,
And through mine eyes thy spirit flashed like flame:
For one eternal moment we were blent,
And all the world a world of Love became.

And though thou hast bright eyes and silken hair,
And sweet, wise mouth and a Madonna brow,
I kneel and worship in the temple fair,
The fairer, immanent, immortal Thou ;

And if thy body withered, and thy fresh
Young beauty faded or mine eyes grew blind,
I still should love within thy mortal flesh
The amaranthine beauty of thy mind.