The Secret Splendour

A huge sky-passion sprouting from the earth

In branching vastnesses of leafy rapture,

Thy beauty quivers through my aching sense

into my soul, O Forest, like a fire!

Nor shall my memory fail thy fragile buds

Of poor wild wayside nameless fragrances,

Thin grasses with unrecognised small discs

Of humble colour—they too shall be mine!

For through the widening silence of my thought

The warrior wind, the tall tree's gorgeous cry,

The chilling slashed monotony of rain,

The frog's barbaric wail, the sedge's sigh

Pass like one mystic splendour.... O pure Spirit,

Love for thy beauty has made even my slumber

The smile of an invisible great light

Upon each limb; but thou hast also taught me

From the profundities of voiceless calm

To wake with an ever simple gay child-heart—

As, when the white emerging dawn first falls

On thy large wood-gloom green and murmurless,

The solemn meditation of slow night

Breaks into glimmering bird-melody!...

My whole self flames and flowers, an eternal

Wonder impregnate with thy paradise;

Each hue has kindled here an ecstasy,

Each swaying shadow left a benison.

I kneel, O Master: all my life is thine!

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