'Lilied flesh Beneath her Maker's finger when the fresh First pulse of life shot brightening the snow.' SORDELLO. FAIR shrine and symbol of God's loveliest creature, As beautiful in faultless form and feature As some white lily in the sunshine grown, Or blushing rose whereon the sun is shining, And over which the dewy winds have flown! Such curves have silver clouds with rosy lining Through which the sun, to feathery gold refining, Gazes in heaven's own light through earth's own cloud, So shadowing forth, and through the mist revealing, The very splendour fogs of earth would shroud. Sometimes, the source of heavenly light unsealing, Some tender thought of radiant help or healing The lovely eyes with wondrous meaning fills, And all the slender lamp, of God's own making, With hidden fire of love an instant thrills. Fair body, of the soul's own joy partaking, A temple where, at every new awaking, A Presence burns within the enlightening flame, That flame of life mysteriously given, For ever sacred to the Holy Name! Not sinless, yet, at last, when thou hast striven To obey the inward light, though tempest-driven,— Renouncing heaven at the call of Duty,— In flames, that then leap higher, shall be riven The base-born bonds that threaten human dust, And forth shall flash the strange immortal beauty Of that Shekinah given to thy trust! |