When in the green and glimmering lanes I linger

When in the green and glimmering lanes I linger,
And gather roses, kissing their red lips;
Or when, deep-dyed by Autumn's ruddy finger,
I feast on bunches ripe of coral hips,
I praise thee, God.
When I am smothered under children's faces,
Dazzled by floating air and warm blue eyes,
And catching glimpses, mid their wild embraces,
Of delicate white limbs that scorn disguise,
I praise thee, God.
When I am bedded deep in flowering grasses,
Watching the sailing clouds and wandering air,

Or borrowing wings from every bird that passes,
Or facing the bold sun, with stare for stare,
I praise thee, God.
When by the marbled lake I lie and listen
To one sweet voice that sings to me alone,
Veiled by green leaves whose silver faces glisten
In breezy light down the blue summer blown,
I praise thee, God.
When her white ivory fingers twine and quiver,
Twinkling thro' mine, and when her golden hair
Flows down her neck, like sunlight down a river,
And half she is, and half she is not there,

I praise thee, God.
When I can look from my proud height above her,
In her quaint faery face, or o'er her bend,
And know I am her friend but not her lover,
That she is not my lover but my friend,
I praise thee, God,
When Margaret pale, and rare and gorgeous Helen,
Or sweet Ottilia, love, weep, smile, or feast,
For the still world of lovely forms I dwell in,
And for thy Poet, for our king and priest,
I praise thee, God.
When I have heard the imprisoned echoes breaking

From rolling clouds, like shouts of gods in fight,
Or armies calling armies, when awaking,
They rise all breathless from too large delight,
I praise thee, God.
When I have seen the scarlet lightnings falling
From cloudy battlements, like throneless kings;
Have seen great angels that, to angels calling,
Open and shut their gold and silver wings,
I praise thee, God.
When I have passed a nobler life in sorrow:
Have seen rude masses grow to fulgent spheres;
Seen how To-day is father of To-morrow,

And how the Ages justify the Years,
I praise thee, God.