Alexander Smith (1830–1867)

THE FIERCE exulting worlds, the motes in rays,

The churlish thistles, scented briers,

The wind-swept blue-bells on the sunny braes,

Down to the central fires,

Exist alike in Love. Love is a sea,

Filling all the abysses dim

Of lornest space, in whose deeps regally

Suns and their bright broods swim.

This mighty sea of Love, with wondrous tides,

Is sternly just to sun and grain;

’Tis laving at this moment Saturn’s sides,—

’Tis in my blood and brain.

All things have something more than barren use;

There is a scent upon the brier,

A tremulous splendour in the autumn dews,

Cold morns are fringed with fire.

The clodded earth goes up in sweet-breathed flowers;

In music dies poor human speech,

And into beauty blow those hearts of ours

When Love is born in each …

Daisies are white upon the churchyard sod,

Sweet tears the clouds lean down and give.

This world is very lovely. O my God,

I thank Thee that I live!