As one brought newly from a desert place
And set within a garden, stands in awe
Of so much delicate and lovely grace
A breathing moment, ere he dares to draw
Nearer this bloom, or this, and with slow hand
Caress a silken petal, so was he
Whom yesterday we saw a stranger stand
Before the packed shelves of the library.
To-day he came again. As one, who is
Possessor of the garden, might ignore
The lesser flowers, and straightly choose and wear
The fairest, even so directly his
Familiar footsteps crossed the quiet floor
Toward that book to his desire most fair.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 April 1933
And set within a garden, stands in awe
Of so much delicate and lovely grace
A breathing moment, ere he dares to draw
Nearer this bloom, or this, and with slow hand
Caress a silken petal, so was he
Whom yesterday we saw a stranger stand
Before the packed shelves of the library.
To-day he came again. As one, who is
Possessor of the garden, might ignore
The lesser flowers, and straightly choose and wear
The fairest, even so directly his
Familiar footsteps crossed the quiet floor
Toward that book to his desire most fair.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 April 1933
