Classic Poem

I

Thou art to me a lone, white, star,
That I may gaze on from afar;
But I may never, never, press
My lips on thine in mute caress,
E'en touch the hem of thy pure dress, —
Thou art so far, so far.

II

Thou livest in a world apart
Created by thy sinless heart; —
There lilies white, and tall, and fair,
Are growing, glowing everywhere,
In gardens wonderful and rare, —
Thou art so far, so far.

III

A sinner, I may only stand,
Without thy white heart's border-land,
And kneeling humbly worship thee,
And kneeling humbly pray for thee,
And kneeling humbly long for thee, —
Thou are too far, too far