Because I love
The sun pours out
its rays of living gold
Pours out its gold
and silver on the sea.
Because I love
The earth upon her astral
spindle winds
Her ecstasy-producing
dance.
Because I love
Clouds travel on the winds
through wide skies,
Skies wide and beautiful,
blue and deep.
Because I love
Wind blows white
sails,
The wind blows over flowers,
the sweet wind blows.
Because I love
The ferns grow green, and
green the grass, and green
The transparent sunlit
trees.
Because I love
Larks ruse up from the
grass
And all the leaves are full
of singing birds.
Because I love
The summer air quivers with
a thoasand wings,
Myriads of jewelled eyes
burn in the light.
Because I love
The iridescent shells upon
the sand
Take forms as fine and
intricate as thought.
Because I love
There is an invisible way
across the sky,
Birds travel by that way,
the sun and moon
And all the stars travel
that path by night.
Because I love
There is a river flowing all
night long.
Because I love
All night the river flows
into my sleep,
Ten thousand living things
are sleeping in my arms,
And sleeping wake, and
flowing are at rest.
Primrose, anemone,
bluebell, moss
Grow in the Kingdom
of the Cross
And the ash-tree's
purple bud
Dresses the spear
that sheds his blood.
With the thorns
that pierce his brow
Soft encircling
petals grow
For in each flower
the secret lies
Of the tree that
crucifies.
Garden by the water
clear
All must die who
enter here!