I felt this was no common spot
For any common thought,
The place's own calm sanctity
Within my spirit wrought.
The cave was dark and damp, it spoke
Of penance and of prayer,
Remorse, that scarcely dared to hope,
And heavy grief were there.
But at the entrance was a scene
Which seemed expressly given,
To bring the heart again to earth,
Yet win it back to heaven.
For so benign an influence
Was falling from the sky,
And, like a blessing on the earth,
The sunshine seemed to lie:
The long green grass was full of life,
And so was every tree,
On every bough there was a bud,
In every bud a bee.
And life hath such a gladdening power
Thus in its joy arrayed,
The God who made the world so fair,
Must love what he has made.
