24 
THE RAINBOW 
 
THE RAINBOW 
 
On land wrought of starlight rain lingers 
In delicate spirals and spines, 
And sunlight’s immaculate fingers  
Creep through the desire of the pines ; 
The promise is flashed into being, 
Tremendous and florid and proud, 
To be seen by the eyes of the seeing, 
A bow in the cloud. 
 
O flamed through the sky as a harlot 
In splendour transcendent and bold, 
With purple and crimson and scarlet 
And azure and olive and gold ! 
O melting to magic and mystery, 
As clouds fly to heaven again, 
And holy Hyperion’s history 
Is flashed into rain ! 
 
O Godhead of glory through anguish ! 
O Christ shone through Magdalen’s tears ! 
Thy sons on the universe languish  
In iron bands strong as the spheres ;