AN INVOCATION 



Great mother, now a suppliant I kneel 

 Where grassy aisles lead to thine altars green 

 And flower-fragrant ; where thou dost reveal 

 Thyself in all the majesty serene 

 Of thy vast motherhood. Alone and long 

 Have I kept vigil 'neath this pierced roof 

 Through which the sunlight flecks the piny floor, 

 Where tawny thrushes hold themselves aloof 

 Yet flood the woodland with their golden song, 

 As though they too were eager to adore. 



Or else on some gray curve of sandy beach, 

 Where lace-like waves with soft insistence hide 

 Their glittering treasures till at last they reach 

 The weed-strown limits of the swollen tide ; 

 Where in my face I felt the bitter spray, 

 And joyed to know the sweet sting of thy kiss ; 

 And where I caught the salt wind in my teeth 

 Like some keen lover who is loth to miss 

 A single charm, there oft entranced I lay 

 And drew in deep draughts of thy briny breath. 



Or else perhaps I sought some meadow low 



Where deep-fringed orchids reared their feathery spires, 



Where lilies nodded by the river slow, 



And milkweeds burned in red and orange fires ; 



