 | Poems of Adoration |  |
88
RECOGNITION
BREATH from the water, breath down from the moon,
A trembling influence between, so mild,
The water-hen makes tempest if she croon,
And fishers from the ship look forth beguiled:
They look on, careless of the reeds aswim,
And know not why they watch the shoreway dim;
A trembling influence between, so mild,
The water-hen makes tempest if she croon,
And fishers from the ship look forth beguiled:
They look on, careless of the reeds aswim,
And know not why they watch the shoreway dim;
Why watch the single form that moves along,
So dark in nobleness of solitude,
By the lake-side, and gathers from among
The rushes fallen rush as fuel rude.
One from the ship bows forwards in the night. . . .
What makes that fisher's face so gaily white?
So dark in nobleness of solitude,
By the lake-side, and gathers from among
The rushes fallen rush as fuel rude.
One from the ship bows forwards in the night. . . .
What makes that fisher's face so gaily white?
A voice comes to them: “Children, have ye caught
All the night nothing?” And the voice entreats:
“Stretch forth your nets!”—Behold, the nets are fraught,
Once dipped, with fish, a silver dance, that beats
Against the trellis. . . . And John's face shines now
As Lucifer, the Dawn-star, from the prow.
All the night nothing?” And the voice entreats:
“Stretch forth your nets!”—Behold, the nets are fraught,
Once dipped, with fish, a silver dance, that beats
Against the trellis. . . . And John's face shines now
As Lucifer, the Dawn-star, from the prow.
In Peter's ear “It is the Lord” he saith—
Virgin, he knows the Virgin Deity:
Then on the secret holding back his breath,
While Peter girds his clothes on boisterously
To spring out overboard, John doth abide
With his own smile, and steers to the Loved Side.
Virgin, he knows the Virgin Deity:
Then on the secret holding back his breath,
While Peter girds his clothes on boisterously
To spring out overboard, John doth abide
With his own smile, and steers to the Loved Side.
| Poems of Adoration | |