The Secret Splendour

Askesis

Each mood's oblation of world-sacrifice

The revelatory God-fire craves:

When the flesh braves

A living death, then shall you realise

The eternal calm within that never dies!

 Until your days are tear-empearled

How can you share His gorgeous world,

Or join the pageant of omnipotence

Unless by pain's warm ruby-scattering opulence?

Welcome the threat of thorns—each gaping wound

Is one more eye to seek the inward Rose:

Nought save that wound-eye can you ever close

In timeless trance-epiphany of light!

It's Love supreme whose potence overthrows

All lesser paradise till life is tuned

To richest concords of the Infinite!

28.9.33

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