'To the Body' (poem) written by Alice Meynell

Thou inmost, ultimate

Council of judgement, palace of decrees,

Where the high senses held their spiritual state,

Sued by earth's embassies,

And sign, approve, accept, conceive, create.


Create - thy senses close

With the world's pleas. Thy random odours reach

Their sweetness in the place of thy repose,

Upon thy tongue the peach,

And in thy nostrils breathes the breathing rose.


To thee, secluded one, 

The dark vibrations of the sightless skies,

The lovely inexplicit colours run;

The light gropes for those eyes.

O thou august! thou dost command the sun.


Music, all dumb, hath trod

Into thine ear her one effectual way;

And fire and cold approach to gain thy nod,

Where thou call's up the day,

Where thou awaitest the appeal of God.

 

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