And then to cry in deep delight God made the world and made it right Dear Heaven above! Was ere completeness so complete, Was ever sweetness half so sweet, Was ever loving half so meet Thank God for love.” To know yourself a thing complete, With strength of mind and limb replete, With vast desire A creature made to dominate The lesser things of earth, a fate On whom the universe must wait, With force entire. To hear the heart beat loud and strong, In unison with Nature's song, That echoes tremulous and long While dawn unfolds. To feel the soul look forth and smile, Contented with each fruitful mile That it beholds. The tiny hum of timid things That fly with gauzy, fragile wings, Where yet the dusk to daylight clings, When mornings break. To hear the rustling voice of leaves, The chirp of birds beneath the eaves, But now awake. To feel the air steal in the room, Made fragrant by the soft perfume Of lime-trees, when their scented bloom Is damp with dew. To turn with soft, contented sigh, And through the window watch the sky, All opal blue.

To watch the dancing, shifting beam Of sun, awake yet half in dream, Uncertain if the fitful gleam Be far or near. “AWAKENING To open both your drowsy eyes, To stretch your limbs and realise That day is here. Why does the world persecute us, Stephen?” And I shall answer: “Because in this world there is only toleration for the so-called normal.” And when you come to me for protection, I shall say: “I cannot protect you, Mary, the world has deprived me of my right to protect I am utterly helpless, I can only love you”.” You will find that many have grown hard of heart, have grown greedy, selfish, cruel and lustful and then you will turn to me and will say: “You and I are more worthy of respect than these people. You will see unfaithfulness, lies and deceit among those whom the world views with approbation.

You will see men and women defiling each other, laying the burden of their sins upon their children. We may harm no living creature by our love we may grow more perfect in understanding and in charity because of our loving but all this will not save you from the scourge of a world that will turn away its eyes from your noblest actions, finding only corruption and vileness in you. Our love may be faithful even unto death and beyond - yet the world will call it unclean. If you come to me, Mary, the world will abhor you, will persecute you, will call you unclean. “Then Stephen must tell her the cruel truth, she must say: ‘I am one of those whom God marked on the forehead.

The book the well of loneliness