Farewell

God of bright colours: rainbows, peacocks,

And the shot-silk gleam of springing

Wind-shaken wheat

On rolling red-ribbed Earth:

Thou Who dost bring to birth

From out the womb

Of darkness golden flowers,

Filling the hollows

With daffodils in March,

Cowslips in April,

Dog-roses in May,

Who in the smouldering forest

Makes the huge

Red flare of Autumn:

God of all the colours

On Earth, and hues (too bright for mortal eyes)

In Paradise—

Unblind me to Thy glory,

That I may see!

God of light dancing:

Waves and ripples

In foam and forest,

And shadows under leaves,

Lambs leaping, prancing,

Horses, dragon-flies,

Stars ...

Thou Whose eye perceives

How and in what dream-ecstasy tall reeds

Shake out brown hair and sway

Like dusky girls

Tranced in an Indian air;

Who knowest the way

Of clouds

Which glide o’er blue unflowered fields,

Scattering shadows

On golden meadows

And fields of dancing daisies:

Teach me, O Lord,

The rhythm of that joy which is Thy mind!

Make my soul dance!