Page:Poems Rowe.djvu/36

Is nothing planted here?" Christ said,
 "Does this good ground go waste?
Ah! shameless Daughter, fetch your tools,
 And till it in all haste!"

And pale, and sad, I wandered on,
 By the dear Master's side.
I looked upon my Garden fair,
 With now no glance of pride.

Then in a corner Christ espied
 A pure white Rose of Love,
The splendour of its radiance shone
 All other flowers above.

And from its breast a perfume stole,
 A fragrance sweet and chaste,
"Ah! but for this," Christ smiling spake,
 "Your Paradise were waste!"

Then in the Garden of my Soul
 The Birds sang loud and strong,
And happiness and joy awoke
 In answer to their song.

For Christ had found the flower of Love,
 What mattered all beside?
Greater than this no other is,
 For Love Christ lived and died!