The Three That Shall Be One

Love on the earth alit,     Come to be Lord of it;     Looked round and laughed with glee,     Noble my empery!     Straight ere that laugh was done     Sprang forth the royal sun,     Pouring out golden shine     Over the realm divine.     Came then a lovely may,     Dazzling the new-born day,     Wreathing her golden hair     With the red roses there,     Laughing with sunny eyes     Up to the sunny skies,     Moving so light and free     To her own minstrelsy.     Love with swift rapture cried,     Dear Life, thou art my bride!     Whereto, with fearless pride,     Dear Love, indeed thy bride!     All the earths fruit and flowers,     All the worlds wealth are ours;     Sun, moon, and stars gem     Our marriage diadem.     So they together fare,     Lovely and joyous pair;     So hand in hand they roam     All through their Eden home;     Each to the others sight     An ever-new delight:     Blue heaven and blooming earth     Joy in their darlings mirth.     Who comes to meet them now,     She with the pallid brow,     Wreathing her night-dark hair     With the red poppies there,     Pouring from solemn eyes     Gloom through the sunny skies,     Moving so silently     In her deep reverie?     Life paled as she drew near,     Love shook with doubt and fear.     Ah, then, she said, in truth     (Eyes full of yearning ruth),     Love, thou wouldst have this Life,     Fair may! to be thy wife?     Yet at an awful shrine     Wert thou not plighted mine?     Pale, paler poor Life grew;     Love murmured, It is true!     How could I thee forsake?     From the brief dream I wake.     Yet, O belovd Death,     See how she suffereth;     Ere we from earth depart     Soothe her, thou tender heart!     Faint on the ground she lay;     Love kissed the swoon away;     Death then bent over her,     Death the sweet comforter!     Whispered with tearful smile,     Wait but a little while,     Then I will come for thee;     We are one family.