But came a lightning to my heart. 

 I call into that flaming centre "Spirit, I love you."  Far away Fades from the paradise I enter The dim unreal land of day. 

 

 

 BABYLON 

 The blue dusk ran between the streets: my love was winged within my mind, It left to-day and yesterday and thrice a thousand years behind. To-day was past and dead for me, for from to-day my feet had run Through thrice a thousand years to walk the ways of ancient Babylon. On temple top and palace roof the burnished gold flung back the rays Of a red sunset that was dead and lost beyond a million days. The tower of heaven turns darker blue, a starry sparkle now begins; The mystery and magnificence, the myriad beauty and the sins Come back to me. I walk beneath the shadowy multitude of towers; Within the gloom the fountain jets its pallid mist in lily flowers. The waters lull me and the scent of many gardens, and I hear Familiar voices, and the voice I love is whispering in my ear. Oh real as in dream all this; and then a hand on mine is laid: The wave of phantom time withdraws; and that young Babylonian maid, One drop of beauty left behind from all the flowing of that tide, Is looking with the self-same eyes, and here in Ireland by my side. Oh light our life in Babylon, but Babylon has taken wings, While we are in the calm and proud procession of eternal things. 

 

 

 THE SILENCE OF LOVE 

 I could praise you once with beautiful words ere you came And entered my life with love in a wind of flame. I could lure with a song from afar my bird to its nest, But with pinions drooping together silence is best. 

 In the Land of Beautiful Silence the winds are laid, And life grows quietly one in the cloudy shade. I will not waken the passion that sleeps in the heart, For the winds that blew us together may blow us apart. 

 Fear not the stillness; for doubt and despair shall cease With the gentle voices guiding us into peace. Our dreams will change as they pass through the gates of gold, And 

 Prev. P 11/28 next