I HAVE seen Snakes with sinuous bodies move—

Their beauty's worship loomed up through a glass

Of cold inhuman fear. Gathering love

From such fine throng of friends, your moments pass

To leave a swift companionable stir

Of kindred pulse, a calmness and a cloud

As the keen breath of Sweet Gale, Broom and Fir

On hills where the plovers wheel and cry aloud.

I felt the shadow of this Beauty fall

Troubling the heart with gratefulness, and awe,

And straining hope, and deepest shame for all

Past deeds unshapely. Hallowed be Her law :

So I your litheness and your limbs most fleet

See with bowed head and with unsandalled feet.