TALISMAN

(Suggested by a refrain from Morris)

The hallowing moon-white

Obscurity of night—

Aroma of a love-hush blown

From the inviolate unknown—

And then once more time's cleaving cry...

But in wide wonder beyond death

A trance of beauty grew life-breath

Behind a shield of memory,

Limned with one red rose strewn

Across a perfect moon.

Sri Aurobindo picked out in particular the first two and the last three lines and characterised them as having "a delicate, richly-subdued colour of mystic light".

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