Dim watery lights gleaming on gibbering faces, Faces speechful, barren of soul and sordid, Huddled and chewing a jest, lewd and gabbled insidious: Laughter, born of its dung, flashes and floods like sunlight, Filling the room with a sense of a soul lethargic and kindly, Touches my soul with a pathos, a hint of a wide desolation. II I saw the face of God to-day, I heard the music of His smile, And yet I was not far away, And yet in Paradise the while. I lay upon the sparkling grass, And God’s own mouth was kissing me, And there was nothing that did pass But blazed with divinity. Divine—divine—upon my eyes, Upon mine hair—divine—divine, The fervour of the golden skies, The ardent gaze of God on mine. III Then spake I to the tree, “Were ye your own desire What is it ye would be?” Answered the tree to me, “I am my own desire, I am what I would be. “If you were your desire Would you lie under me, And see me as you see?” “I am my own desire While I lie under you, And that which I would be Desire will sing to you.” IV I wander—I wander—O will she wander here Where’er my footsteps carry me I know that she is near, A jewelled lamp within her hand and jewels in her hair; I lost her in a vision once and seek her everywhere. My spirit whispers she is near, I look at you and you: Surely she has not passed me, I sleeping as she flew. I wander—I wander, and yet she is not here, Although my spirit whispers to me that she is near. ZION[3] She stood—a hill-ensceptred Queen, The glory streaming from her; While Heaven flashed her rays between, And shed eternal summer. The gates of morning opened wide On sunny dome and steeple; Noon gleamed upon the mountain-side Thronged with a happy people; And twilight’s drowsy, half closed eyes Beheld that virgin splendour Whose orbs were as her darkening skies, And as her spirit, tender. Girt with that strength, first-born of right, Held fast by deeds of honour, Her robe she wove with rays more bright Than Heaven could rain upon her. Footnote 3: