Poems (Argent)/Lilies

by Alice Emily Argent

LILIES.

"My beloved is gone down into his garden—to gather lilies."
Solomon's Song.

BESIDE the garden's sunny wall
 My tall white lilies rise,
Whereon the sunbeams love to fall
 From far-off orient skies;
And, stainless as the dazzling snow,
They wave their blossoms to and fro.

I watch my lilies day by day
 Unfold their buds of white,
And dearest in the garden gay
 Are these my flowers of light,
All radiantly they ever dwell
On thoughts and prayers invisible!

Their odour scatters through the air
 A soft thanksgiving psalm,
In which I fain would come and share
 Such high and lofty calm.
My grateful lilies! that do give
Their fullest every day they live.

What purity and love they teach
 In garments without spot,
As with meek looks they seem to reach
 Where sorrow cometh not.
My virgin lilies fair and tall
That grow beside the garden wall.

I wonder not on them was laid
 The emblem sweet of old,
And chosen type for saintly maid
 On whom the manifold,
Great love of God was shower'd upon,—
The maiden meek who bore God's Son.

Madonna-like these blossoms speak
 Unto each human breast,
And in sad hearts with anguish weak
 Whisper eternal rest.
Oh! pure my lilies, blowing sweet
With lifted eyes and patient feet.

Within the garden wilds on earth,
 Where noisome weeds and roots
Choke the poor flowers that spring to birth,
 Oh! spare the tender shoots!
The young, young lilies of the land
Who need the Master's strengthening hand.

Dear Lord, I would that I might be
 Within Thy garden ground,
A chaste white lily grown for Thee
 And hedged all safe around.
Oh! might I in Thy fields divine
With Christ's own light reflected shine!