In The Garden Of Girls

Serious, but smiling, stately and serene, And lovelier than a flower, She stands; in whom all sympathies convene As perfumes in a bower; Through whom I feel what soul and heart must mean, And all their love and power.

Eyes, that commune with the frank skies of truth, Beneath their cloud-like curls; Lips of immortal rose, where joy and youth Nestle like priceless pearls; Hair, that suggests the Bible braids of Ruth, Deeper than any girl’s.

When first I saw her, ’t was as if within My gaze took shape some song-- Played by a master of the violin-- A music, pure and strong, That rapt my soul above all earthly sin To heights that know no wrong.