Rest at Noon

Now with a re-created mind
Back to the world my way I find;

Fed by the hills one little hour,
By meadow-slope and beechen-bower,

Cedar serene, benignant larch,
Hoar mountains and the azure arch

Where dazzling vapors make vast sport
In God’s profound and spacious court.

The universe played with me. Earth
Harped to high heaven her sweetest mirth;

The clouds built castles for my pleasure,
And airy legions without measure

Flung, spindrift-wise, across the sky
To thrill my heart once and to die.

I have held converse with large things;
For cherubim with cooling wings

Brushed me, and gay stars, hid from view,
Called through the arras of the blue

And clapped their hands: “These veils uproll!
And see the comrades of your soul!”

The very flowers that ringed my bed
Their little “God-be-with-you” said,

And every insect, bird and bee
Brought cool cups from eternity.

Hermann Hagedorn