| HER feet are set in darkness—at Her feet | |
| We kneel, for She is Mother of us all— | |
| A mighty Mother, with all love replete; | |
| We, groping ’midst the shadow’s dusky pall, | |
| Ask not to see the upper vision bright, | 5 |
| Enough for us Her feet shine clear—all virgin white. | |
| |
| Her wings are tipped with golden light, but we | |
| Ken but the shadow at Her pinions’ base— | |
| We kneel before Her feet, we cannot see | |
| The glory that illuminates Her face, | 10 |
| For he who t’wards the vision gazeth up | |
| Finds first the stricken breast—the sacrificial cup! | |
| |
| Her feet gleam in the darkness—at Her feet | |
| We lay the price of those twin pearls of Heav’n— | |
| All that man hath—an offering incomplete | 15 |
| Is his who yet his best would leave ungiv’n; | |
| And as She stoops Her guerdon to bestow, | |
| His life’s blood in Her cup, outstretched there, needs must flow! | |
| |
| Her wings are in the shadow—Lo! they cast | |
| That shadow e’en o’er Heav’n’s own light, we cry, | 20 |
| For in the darkness, terrible and vast, | |
| She spreads the wing to which the soul must hie; | |
| But, to that shelter led, our upward gaze | |
| Beholds Her pinions formed of Light’s celestial rays! | |
| |
| Her feet are in the darkness, but Her face | 25 |
| Is in high Heav’n—all Truth inhabits there; | |
| All Knowledge and all Peace, and perfect grace, | |
| And in the wonder of Her joy they share | |
| Who, blindly clinging to Her feet erstwhile, | |
| Obtained the priceless gift—the vision of Her smile. | 30 |
