Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE GIFT by CONSTANCE CAROLINE WOODHILL NADEN

First Line: FROM PARADISE THERE CAME, ONE MAYTIDE MORN
Last Line: "THOU HAST THE LIFE AND QUINTESSENCE OF LOVE."

FROM Paradise there came, one Maytide morn,
An Almoner of love, with gifts divine:
To some he brought rich draughts of magic wine;
To some, who laboured in their fields forlorn,
Sweet showers and sunbeams for the springing corn;
Then me he called, with gracious word and sign,
But when I looked what bounty should be mine,
One fire-bright drop he gave me, as in scorn.

"Angel! to these thou givest present mirth,
To those, the promise of a golden crop
In Autumn; was my hope so little worth?"
Smiling, the Angel answered -- "Share and prove
Their joy, if so thou wilt -- in that one drop
Thou hast the life and quintessence of Love."






Home: PoetryExplorer.net