English Roses by F. Harald Williams [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] |
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| I. |
TALLER THAN THE TALLEST. |
| II. |
| III. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
 | English Roses |  |
TALLER THAN THE TALLEST.
She was taller than the tallest
And her face was more than fair,
While the gold and sunlight mingled
With a life that through her tingled,
In the glory of her hair;
And she smiled upon the smallest,
Like a queen with royal air.
For she felt her kin in meanness,
And in commonest uncleanness
Could perceive the angel hid—
As beneath the coffin lid
Peeps the whiteness of the rose,
Out of deaf and dumb repose—
Though the curse of forms forbid.
And her face was more than fair,
While the gold and sunlight mingled
With a life that through her tingled,
In the glory of her hair;
And she smiled upon the smallest,
Like a queen with royal air.
For she felt her kin in meanness,
And in commonest uncleanness
Could perceive the angel hid—
As beneath the coffin lid
Peeps the whiteness of the rose,
Out of deaf and dumb repose—
Though the curse of forms forbid.
She was sweeter than the sweetest
And her mouth a crimson cup,
Whereat love the real refiner
And of hope the best diviner
Might of dew and honey sup;
And, in music, did the meetest
Words caressingly rise up.
It was just the gentle flowing
Of her kindness, ever owing
Debts of sympathy to all;
Which as morning light must fall
Upon others and would strike
Both the strong and weak alike,
With one benediction's call.
And her mouth a crimson cup,
Whereat love the real refiner
And of hope the best diviner
Might of dew and honey sup;
And, in music, did the meetest
Words caressingly rise up.
It was just the gentle flowing
Of her kindness, ever owing
Debts of sympathy to all;
Which as morning light must fall
Upon others and would strike
Both the strong and weak alike,
With one benediction's call.
112
She was purer than the purest,
And her life a stainless chart
Lay wide open to the traces
Of the best and broadest graces,
Which write beauty on the heart;
And they led her by the surest
Way, that is unknown to art.
Nothing more could add or heighten
Charms that hourly seemed to brighten,
As the blossoms in the day
With the pretty beams at play;
And no evil left a mark,
While no shadow could make dark
Modesty that held the sway.
And her life a stainless chart
Lay wide open to the traces
Of the best and broadest graces,
Which write beauty on the heart;
And they led her by the surest
Way, that is unknown to art.
Nothing more could add or heighten
Charms that hourly seemed to brighten,
As the blossoms in the day
With the pretty beams at play;
And no evil left a mark,
While no shadow could make dark
Modesty that held the sway.
She was greater than the greatest,
With her brow a vestal throne
Showing every shy expression
And the tenderest confession
Of high charity's true tone;
While her carriage was sedatest,
And befitted her alone.
For beneath the woman's vesture
And betrayed in every gesture
Was a touch of something more,
In the dignity she bore:
And she walked among us queenly
In a love that lived serenely,
As none ever did before.
With her brow a vestal throne
Showing every shy expression
And the tenderest confession
Of high charity's true tone;
While her carriage was sedatest,
And befitted her alone.
For beneath the woman's vesture
And betrayed in every gesture
Was a touch of something more,
In the dignity she bore:
And she walked among us queenly
In a love that lived serenely,
As none ever did before.
| English Roses | |