JOY.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 12, 1 September 1900, Page 914

JOY.

Dearest and Best, while we lie, Naked as Love, on the white, warm sand, Watching the clear green ripples play , Round the granite outposts of the land — Watching the seagulls, circling high And higher still in the brilliant blue — Losing ourselves where Sea and Sky Melt in a tender, nameless hue : You, Dear,, and I, like the youngest born Of all Earth's children, so Lords of all, Lying alone on this perfect morn .... 'Tis Eden— before the Fall. Deai'est and Best, how our eyes retrace From sapphire vault, and the Sea's vague vim, Their flight to dwell on the endless grace Of neck, and bosom, and supple limb ! Exquisite beauties have Earth and Sky, Drawn by the Master of tone and line, But of all His marvellous artistry The crown is "the human form divine." That temple of God — we have kept it ' ' clear, Spotless, and pure, tho' the world hath blamed ; And if' He that fashioned it should appear, How we should greet Him — unashamed !

Dearest and Best, we have risen high ; Shall we ever rise to that highest height' — Shall the glorious vision of Adonai Be ever revealed to our mortal sight ? The feet like brass, the hair like wool, The glowing eyes like flames that burn, The golden girdle, the right hand full Of worlds that turn, and turn, and turn ? Yea, in some moment such as this, When the clog of matter aside is flung, We shall surely, surely taste the bliss He hath granted His saints since the world was young. Dearest and Best . In his own good time ! Ages have fled since wo learned to rest In perfect calm, with a faith sublime That hath grown to knowledge, upon His breast : Leave it to Him. . . How the waves allure With their lap, lap, lapping on sand and shell ! " Plunge in the waters cool and pure " — Faster and faster they weave their spell. Can you resist it ? Not I, Sweetheart : Come, let us trust them : your hands, dear hands — Nay, I will kiss them ! Now, off we dart Like antelopes out o'er the hard, wet sands. David Will. M. Burn.