JOY.
31
Of deathless fires; and never mother smiled
Like her who smiles forever, seeing one
Immortal child, for whom immortal fatherhood
Beseeches and receives eternal good.
And days that were not full are filled;
And with triumphant breath,
Mighty to cheer and save,
The voices ring which once were stilled,
The pulses beat which once were chilled,
"Life is the victory of the grave,
Christ is Lord of the Lord of Death!"
Like her who smiles forever, seeing one
Immortal child, for whom immortal fatherhood
Beseeches and receives eternal good.
And days that were not full are filled;
And with triumphant breath,
Mighty to cheer and save,
The voices ring which once were stilled,
The pulses beat which once were chilled,
"Life is the victory of the grave,
Christ is Lord of the Lord of Death!"
JOY.
JOY, hast thou a shape?Hast thou a breath?
How fillest thou the soundless air?
Tell me the pillars of thy house!
What rest they on? Do they escape
The victory of Death?
And are they fair
Eternally, who enter in thy house?
O Joy, thou viewless spirit, canst thou dare
To tell the pillars of thy house?
On adamant of pain,
Before the earth
Was born of sea, before the sea,
Yea, and before the light, my house
Was built. None know what loss, what gain,
Attends each travail birth,
Before the earth
Was born of sea, before the sea,
Yea, and before the light, my house
Was built. None know what loss, what gain,
Attends each travail birth,
