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191

THE LIFE ETERNAL

SONNET

Woman must bring to man the life of flowers
Within her lips and ever-fragrant hair,
And all the sweetness of the summer air
That breathes from heavenly shores and mystic bowers.
She makes this earth the abode of unknown powers
That stoop from heaven, the soul of man to bear
Upward, if he will hearken and prepare
To build on earth the golden deathless towers.
White with the glory of the breast of God,
Scented from fields no foot of man has trod,
She gives herself, a stainless being, to earth.
Without her sweet vicarious subtle grace
No man can meet God's sweetness face to face
Nor know regenerate joys of heavenly birth.
1901.