Unseen One, The

They who are with us cannot see
     What silent steps keep time with ours
What sunshine round our hearts may be
     Though the murk tempest lowers.
What dewiness in fevered noon
     Melts cooly to the spirit’s core;
What air breaths round us soft as June
     Though rude December roar.

Nor who with pure ideal face
     And eyes unfathomably deep
Looks on us in the lonely place
     Or where the life-throngs sweep
They cannot know, they cannot guess
     How rustle the white angel-plumes
In morning’s buoyant breeziness
     Or Evening’s purple glooms.

What depth of Silence like a sky
     Bends round us in the worldly noise
What melody as from on high
     Makes stillness to rejoice
What sense of mutual union clear
     Each carnal glance of ours may lead
And consciousness of that high sphere
     Whither our mute thoughts lead.

Thou knowest Wife of soul and heart
     How the twin gates of Life’s Inmost
With our own lifted eyelids part,
     To a Seraphic Host.
And the tall Angel clothed in white
     Who is our Silence and our Song
Companionship and lone delight—
     Clear eye and pinion strong
Thou knowest; & folding to thy breast
     Our Gift from Her, thy glance above
Hath all Her holy Name expressed
     And thy lips breathed it Love!