I Know What Beauty Is + 

I know what beauty is, for thou + 

Hast set the world within my heart; + 

Of me thou madest it a part; + 

I never loved it more than now. + 

I know the Sabbath afternoons; + 

The light asleep upon the graves: + 

Against the sky the poplar waves; + 

The river murmurs organ tunes. + 

I know the spring with bud and bell; + 

The hush in summer woods at night; + 

Autumn, when trees let in more light; + 

Fantastic winter’s lovely spell. + 

I know the rapture music gives, + 

Its mystery of ordered tones: + 

Dream-muffled soul, it loves and moans, + 

And, half-alive, comes in and lives. + 

And verse I know, whose concord high + 

Of thought and music lifts the soul + 

Where many a glimmering starry shoal + 

Glides through the Godhead’s living sky. + 

Yea, Beauty’s regnant All I know⁠— + 

The imperial head, the thoughtful eyes; + 

The God-imprisoned harmonies + 

That out in gracious motions go. + 

But I leave all, O Son of man, + 

Put off my shoes, and come to thee! + 

Most lovely thou of all I see, + 

Most potent thou of all that can! + 

As child forsakes his favourite toy, + 

His sisters’ sport, his new-found nest, + 

And, climbing to his mother’s breast, + 

Enjoys yet more his late-left joy⁠— + 

I lose to find. On fair-browed bride + 

Fair pearls their fairest light afford; + 

So, gathered round thy glory, Lord, + 

All glory else is glorified. + 