A COUNTRY LANE IN HEAVEN

The exceeding weight of glory bowed

My head, in that pure clime:

I found a road that ran through cloud

Along the coasts of Time....

Out of that mist of years there came

A cross-barred gate of wood.

I clutched, I kissed the unheavenly frame

So hard, it trickled blood.

My head upon the iron lay.

I slobbered blood and foam.

Yea, like a dog, I knew the way,

A hundred yards from home.

Iron and blood and wood! They knew

The secret of that cry

When the Eternal Passion drew

Their Maker through — to die.

I knew each little hawthorn-cloud

Along my misty lane,

Then my heart burst. She sobbed aloud,

Between my arms again.