WHO are these that go with our girl white as snow, The one speckless lily since the world began? They carry the well-water for our little dear daughter, Their wings are as sapphire, my good wife Anne. Joachim, my husband, there is naught amiss, Though something's changed our girl from the child she was, When from the hidden Temple she came, gentle and simple— Surely some wonderful thing of God has come to pass! Anne, in the dawning when the lights were low And the first bird was stirring I was sore afeard. There was someone with our girl, clad in the rose and pearl, For I heard his talking and her answer heard. When she plucks the grapes from the clinging vine, When she sweeps the hearth-place and kneads the bread, There's a hand fine and slender, quick aid to render. What light grows about her, our little maid? Anne, in the house there's a stirring of feet, Winnowing of wings and rustle upon the stair. The flowers spring before her and the stars lean o'er her, And the ring of light dazzles gold in her hair. Joachim, my goodman, great things are afoot, The Hour of God is striking and the Word fulfilled. The child that shall be born shall wear the Crown of Thorn. Yea, for world's healing His Blood be spilled. Mary goes by them, slender and young. The Rose of Sharon's budded and Jesse's Rod's in flower, Magnificat she is singing and her song soaring, winging, Sets all the roses swinging in Heaven's bower. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE FAIR CLARINDA, WHO MADE LOVE TO ME by APHRA BEHN NO PLATONIQUE LOVE by WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT SONNET: 57 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE TO IRELAND IN THE COMING TIMES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS MASKS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH AUTUMN MESSAGES by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |