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92 | Light within the Shade To Appear Before You How soft, my tired woman’s hand, How soft it strokes, how gentle when it gives, Opening, to that wherein it lives— Through you I came to understand: Blessings on you for giving me my hand! My eyes, soever languid, thoughtful, sad, (Amazing miracle!) beheld your fate And knew it as a burning brand immaculate, Star of Bethlehem, guide from paradise, God bless me for the vision of my eyes! I’m ugly, that’s what I always thought, Tuning tuned only for coarse desire, To charm the heart I never might aspire. —You loved me, charmed me with a caress Into this soft evening loveliness. So ugly was it, how I lived till now, Mixed, wasteful, in half, torn agape! . . . Now my past, too, has been set in shape As now I tell the story of it all.— Because you saw my fate: I found it beautiful. The golden chalice of your faith Brimfull you offered, holy, brave, and fine. You gave me for to drink your love’s grailwine, And sainted me for all my days! Beatified: raised high within your praise Ever “appearing before you”; for these things, O blessings, blessings, blessings, blessings! 1915 ...

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