Classic Poem

Set your love before me as a shield!
That, whistling by, the shadowy, wounding spear
Of the world's hate may seek my heart in vain,
Where on your breast it nestles — half in fear
Of the divine sweet silence round us twain —
Set your love before me as a shield!

Set your love before me as a light!
A candle tall: so shall I, weak, prevail
O'er darkness; pass beyond all venomed things
Into the endless Dawn, gold-starred, rose-pale,
And murmurous with whirring silver wings —
Set your love before me as a light!

Set your love before me as a cloud!
A cloud of rainbow mist, where Griot discerns
The radiant face of Joy, and groweth glad:
And Joy, remembering how God's Angel turns
The Wheel of Life, hath pity for the sad —
Set your love before me as a cloud!

Set your love about me as a sea!
Encompassing — whose white and cooling wave
Brings peace — or should at times your soul desire,
To prove my spirit's fervour, then I crave
Love's baptism in deeps of strengthening fire —
Set your love about me as a sea!

Set your love upon me as a prayer!
A benison so softly breathed that none
But God and you and I the words may guess —
Whisper it down the quiet, Dearest One,
The while I reach my lips for your caress —
Set your love upon me as a prayer!