Piper at the Gates of Dawn

On either side of them
as they glided onwards
the rich meadow-grass
seemed that morning
of a freshness and a greenness
unsurpassable
Never had they noticed
the roses so vivid
the willow-herb so riotous
the meadow-sweet
so odorous and pervading

In midmost of the stream
a small island lay
fringed close with willow
and silver birch
Reserved, shy, but full of significance
it hid whatever it might hold
behind a veil
keeping it till the hour should come
and with the hour
those who were called and chosen

Slowly but with no doubt or hesitation
and in solemn expectancy
the two animals passed
through the broken water
and moored their boat
at the margin of the island
In silence they landed and pushed
through the blossom and undergrowth
till they stood on a little lawn of
marvellous green

This is the place of my song-dream,
the place the music played to me
whispered the Rat
""Here in this holy place
here if anywhere
surely we shall find Him

Then suddenly the Mole felt
a great Awe fall upon him
an awe that turned his muscles to water
an awe that bowed his head
and rooted his feet to the ground
an awe that smote and held him
and, without seeing
he knew that some august Presence
was very, very near

He turned to his friend
and saw him at his side
cowed, stricken and trembling

Perhaps he would never have
dared to raise his eyes
but the call and the summons
seemed dominant and imperious
He could not refuse
Trembling he obeyed
and raised his humble head
And then,
in that utter clearness of imminent dawn
he looked in the very eyes
of the Friend and Helper
saw the backward sweep
of the curved horns
gleaming in the growing daylight
saw the stern, hooked nose
between the kindly eyes
saw the bearded mouth
broken into a half-smile at the corners
saw the rippling muscles on the arm
that lay across the broad chest
the long supple hand
still holding the pipes
just fallen from the parted lips
saw the splendid curves
of the shaggy limbs
disposed in majestic ease on the sward
saw, last of all
the magnificent hooves

All this he saw
for one moment breathless and intense
vivid on the morning sky
and still, as he looked, he lived
and still, as he lived, he wondered

Rat! he found breath to whisper
are you afraid?
Afraid? murmered the Rat
his eyes shining with unutterable love
Afraid! Of Him O, never
And yet, Mole, I am afraid

Then the two animals
crouching to the earth
bowed their heads and did worship

Sudden and magnificent
the sun's broad golden disc
showed itself over the horizon
and the first rays
took the animals full in the eyes
and dazzled them
When they were able to look once more
the Vision had vanished
and the air was full of the song of birds
that hailed the dawn