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 | The poems of Madison Cawein |  |
329
THE MESSAGE OF THE LILIES
My soul and I went walking
Beneath the moon of spring;
The lilies pale were talking,
We heard them murmuring.
Beneath the moon of spring;
The lilies pale were talking,
We heard them murmuring.
From dimly moonlit places
They thrust long throats of white,
And lifted fairy faces
Of fragrant snow and light.
They thrust long throats of white,
And lifted fairy faces
Of fragrant snow and light.
Their language was an essence,
Yet clear as any bird's;
And from it grew a presence,
As music grows from words.
Yet clear as any bird's;
And from it grew a presence,
As music grows from words.
A spirit born of silence
And chastity and dew
Among Elysian islands
Were not more white to view.
And chastity and dew
Among Elysian islands
Were not more white to view.
330
A spirit born of fire
And holiness and snow,
Within the Heaven's desire,
Were not more pure to know.
And holiness and snow,
Within the Heaven's desire,
Were not more pure to know.
He smiled among them, lifting
Pale hands of prayer and peace—
And through the moonlight, drifting,
Came words to me like these:—
Pale hands of prayer and peace—
And through the moonlight, drifting,
Came words to me like these:—
“We are His lilies, lilies,
Whose praises here we sing!
We are the lilies, lilies
Of Christ our Lord and King!”
Whose praises here we sing!
We are the lilies, lilies
Of Christ our Lord and King!”
| The poems of Madison Cawein | |