Straying one day amid the leafy bowers,
A Presence passed, masked in a sunny ray,
Tossing behind him carelessly the hours,
As one shakes blossoms from a ravished spray,—
Strewing them far and wide.
Nor glanced to either side.
A-sudden as he strolled he chanced upon
A flower which full within his pathway blew,
White as a lily, modest as a nun,
Sweeter than Lilith's rose in Eden grew—
Her beauty he espied,
Approached and softly sighed.
His breath the blossom stirred and all the air
Grew fragrant with a subtle, rich perfume;
The spiced alleys glowed, the while a rare
And crystal radiance did illume
All the adjacent space
As 't were an angel's face.
Kneeling, he gently laid his glowing lips,
Like softest music on her lips, when came
A thrill that trembled to her petal-tips,
And on the instant, with a sudden flame,
Leaped forth the shining sun,
And Earth and Heaven were one.
"Who art thou?" queried she, "Tell me thy name,
To whom Godlike this Godlike power is given,
That thus for me, without or fear or shame,
But by thy lips' soft touch Greatest Heaven?"
Whilst to his heart she clove,
He whispered, "I am Love."