 | Sursum Corda |  |
50
IN EAST DEAN WOODS.
'Twas April—rain was over,
I sought for solitude,
Which thought I to discover
In a vast and vacant wood.
I sought for solitude,
Which thought I to discover
In a vast and vacant wood.
But all at once astounded
I stood, in strange delight,
For I found my feet surrounded
With a million faces bright.
I stood, in strange delight,
For I found my feet surrounded
With a million faces bright.
Far as the eye could follow,
Amid the new-thinned trees,
The hill-slope and the hollow
Were clothed with primroses.
Amid the new-thinned trees,
The hill-slope and the hollow
Were clothed with primroses.
51
The radiance of their faces
Enlightened all the air,
And the lone forest spaces
Were populous as a fair.
Enlightened all the air,
And the lone forest spaces
Were populous as a fair.
Then felt I as that mortal
Who in deep sleep has passed
Unwitting through death's portal,
And stands in heaven shamefast.
Who in deep sleep has passed
Unwitting through death's portal,
And stands in heaven shamefast.
Earth-stained, with thoughts bewildering,
He stands, while round him smile
The angels of sweet children
Who never knew of guile.
He stands, while round him smile
The angels of sweet children
Who never knew of guile.
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