The Voice of the Beloved: Sweet to me
The shadow He hath made beneath the Tree,
Where from earth's glare He seeks to shelter me.
Behold, He cometh quickly. 'Lo, I be -
All else forgetting - Lord, awaiting Thee.'
The Voice of the Beloved: see, how He
Descendeth from the mountains. Verily,
He looketh through the lattices, to see
The beatings of her heart; so she may be
Alone, when He shall whisper secretly.
The Voice of the Beloved: lo, 'tis He
Whose Word was uttered in Eternity.
She was the Chosen of His Love, and He
Hath made her beautiful, that she may be
The Crown of all His works, eternally.
The Voice of the Beloved: 'Haste,' saith He,
'Arise, My Dove, arise; for verily,
The winter now is past, the rain gone by,
The flowers upspring with gladness. Rise and see
Our Garden perfected through thee and Me.'
The Voice of the Beloved: 'Lo, I be
For ever ready, Lord, awaiting Thee.
Our Vineyard flourisheth: and soon shall be
Destroyed the foxes, which maliciously
Our Vine would injure. Lo, I wait for Thee.'
The Voice of the Beloved: 'Let me see
Thy loving Face, O Lord, that it may be
Imprinted on my heart and memory.
As I to Him, so is my Love to me.
Arise, my Lord; Thy servant waits for Thee.
'Among the Lilies shall our pastures be
Transplanted to our Garden: there will we
In everlasting peace and jubilee
The Kingdom govern - which unchangeably
Lies in the Bosom of the Trinity.'
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote