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WHEN grace is given us ever to behold A child some sweet months old, Love, laying across our lips his finger, saith, Smiling, with bated breath, Hush! for the holiest thing that lives is here, And heaven’s own heart how near! How dare we, that may gaze not on the sun, Gaze on this verier one? Heart, hold thy peace; eyes, be cast down for shame; Lips, breathe not yet its name. In heaven they know what name to call it; we, How should we know? For, see! The adorable sweet living marvellous Strange light that lightens us Who gaze, desertless of such glorious grace, Full in a babe’s warm face! All roses that the morning rears are nought, All stars not worth a thought, Set this one star against them, or suppose As rival this one rose. What price could pay with earth’s whole weight of geld One least flushed roseleafs fold Of all this dimpling store of smiles that shine From each warm curve and line, Each charm of flower-sweet flesh, to reillume The dappled rose-red bloom Of all its dainty body, honey-sweet Clenched hands and curled-up feet, That on the roses of the dawn have trod As they came down from God, And keep the flush and colour that the sky Takes when the sun comes nigh, And keep the likeness of the smile their grace Evoked on God’s own face When, seeing this work of his most heavenly mood, He saw that it was good? For all its warm sweet body seems one smile, And mere men’s love too vile To meet it, or with eyes that worship dims Read o’er the little limbs, Read all the book of all their beauties o’er, Rejoice, revere, adore, Bow down and worship each delight in turn, Laugh, wonder, yield, and yearn. But when our trembling kisses dare, yet dread, Even to draw nigh its head, And touch, and scarce with touch or breath surprise Its mild miraculous eyes Out of their viewless vision—O, what then, What may be said of men? What speech may name a new-born child? what word Earth ever spake or heard? The best men’s tongue that ever glory knew Called that a drop of dew Which from the breathing creature’s kindly womb Came forth in blameless bloom. We have no word, as had those men most high, To call a baby by. Rose, ruby, lily, pearl of stormless seas— A better word than these, A better sign it was than flower or gem That love revealed to them: They knew that whence comes light or quickening flame, Thence only this thing came, And only might be likened of our love To somewhat born above, Not even to sweetest things dropped else on earth, Only to dew’s own birth. Nor doubt we but their sense was heavenly true, Babe, when we gaze on you, A dew-drop out of heaven whose colours are More bright than sun or star, As now, ere watching love dare fear or hope, Lips, hands, and eyelids ope, And all your life is mixed with earthly leaven. O child, what news from heaven? |