Mother Descending the Stairs

No photographic splendour of the night

Or opalescent nebulae in space

Could fill the yearning heart with more delight

Than Her descent in a white cloud of grace.

They saw Her as a flame of brilliant rays

Moving along the balcony or street,

Vanquishing the demons of our days.

I only saw Her soft sandaled feet,

Her hand upon the polished balustrade,

Her eyes that held the world in their embrace

Her loveliness that made earth's beauty fade,

Divine compassion etched upon Her face,

And O, the silken softness of Her hair, –

I wept to see Her sweetly standing there.