Cold, quite cold, I could only see
Beauty of curve and line,
I could not find that deeper thing
That secret which dwells in everything,
I could not make it mine.
The marble stood so cold and still,
And yet within her breast,
I knew lay hid a wondrous spell
To open dreams too fair to tell,
Where I might stay and rest.
I find it even in the flowers,
In tints and perfumes sweet,
And in the silent stars at night,
And in the rays of sunset light
Their meaning is complete.
I cried for light to find it here,
And waited, till one day
The hand that hid the wondrous gift
Came from the past the clouds to lift
And drew the veil away.