THE POET.

The poet is the child of God,

Who with anointed eye

Discerns a sacrament of love

In earth and sea and sky,

And finds himself at love's behest

Constrained to prophesy.

Love is of loveliness the root,

Love is of life the spring,

Love is the sole interpreter

Of every lovely thing:

This is the burden of his song,

Well may the poet sing!

A joy-inspirèd song he sings

Because far off he hears

A whisper silencing the storm,

A laughter through the tears,

The music of eternity

Beyond the dying years.

His song is rapture, for he sees

God's loveliness, and we,

When with his insight we are blest,

Shall share his ecstasy;

Oh, come the day when all shall sing

As blithe a song as he!

Lord Christ, Thou art the King of Love,

Thou art the Poet true;

The men who would Thy vision share

Must learn Thy works to do,

All, all shall have the singing heart

Whose feet Thy steps pursue!