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Ascending slowly with unconscious steps, A foundling of the Gods she wanders here Like a child-soul left near the gates of Hell Fumbling through fog in search of Paradise.

A world that ever seeks for something missed, Hunts for the joy that earth has failed to keep.

When earth was built in the unconscious Void And nothing was save a material scene, Identified with sea and sky and stone Her young gods yearned for the release of souls Asleep in objects, vague, inanimate.

There reigned a breath of high immune content, A fortunate gait of days in tranquil air, A flood of universal love and peace.

Worlds were there of a happiness great and grave And action tinged with dream, laughter with thought, And passion there could wait for its desire Until it heard the near approach of God.

Only to be was a supreme delight, Life was a happy laughter of the soul And Joy was king with Love for minister.

There were vasts of the glory of life's absolutes: All laughed in a safe immortality And an eternal childhood of the soul Before darkness came and pain and grief were born

On a spiritual and mysterious peak Only a miracle's high transfiguring line Divided life from the formless Infinite And sheltered Time against eternity.

Thou shalt not shrink from any brother soul. Thou shalt be attracted helplessly to all. Men seeing thee shall feel my hands of joy, In sorrow's pangs feel steps of the world's delight,