The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||
194
The Watchers.
She fell asleep among the flowers
In the sober Autumn hours.
In the sober Autumn hours.
Three there are about her bed,
At her side and feet and head.
At her side and feet and head.
At her head standeth the Cross
For which all else she counted loss:
For which all else she counted loss:
Still and steadfast at her feet
Doth her Guardian Angel sit:
Doth her Guardian Angel sit:
Prayers of truest love abide
Wrapping her on every side.
Wrapping her on every side.
The Holy Cross standeth alone,
Beneath the white moon, whitest stone.
Beneath the white moon, whitest stone.
Evil spirits come not near
Its shadow, shielding from all fear;
Its shadow, shielding from all fear;
Once she bore it in her breast,
Now it certifies her rest.
Now it certifies her rest.
Humble violets grow around
Its base, sweetening the grassy ground,
Its base, sweetening the grassy ground,
Leaf-hidden; so she hid from praise
Of men her pious holy ways.
Of men her pious holy ways.
Higher about it, twining close,
Clingeth a crimson thorny rose;
Clingeth a crimson thorny rose;
So from her heart's good seed of love
Thorns sprang below, flowers spring above.
Thorns sprang below, flowers spring above.
Tho' yet his vigil doth not cease,
Her Angel sits in perfect peace,
Her Angel sits in perfect peace,
With white folded wings; for she
He watches, now is pure as he.
He watches, now is pure as he.
He watches with his loving eyes
For the day when she shall rise;
For the day when she shall rise;
195
When full of glory and of grace
She shall behold him face to face.
She shall behold him face to face.
Tho' she is safe for ever, yet
Human love doth not forget;
Human love doth not forget;
But prays that in her deep
Grave she may sleep a blessed sleep,
Grave she may sleep a blessed sleep,
Till when time and the world are past
She may find mercy at the last.
She may find mercy at the last.
So these three do hedge her in
From sorrow as death does from sin.
From sorrow as death does from sin.
So freed from earthly taint and pain
May they all meet in Heaven. Amen.
May they all meet in Heaven. Amen.
The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | ||