To a Carmelite Postulant

(San Francisco, May, 1910)

By Michael Earls, S.J.

Oh, the banks of May are fair,
Charm of sound and sight,
Breath of heaven fills the air,
To the world’s delight.

Far more wondrous is a bower,
Fairer than the May,
Love-of-God it wears in flower,
Blooming night and day.

Love-of-God within the heart
Multicolored grows,
Now a lily’s counterpart,
Now the blood-red rose.

Come the sun or chilling rain,
Come the drought or dew,
Crocus health or violet pain,
Love-of-God is true.

Hard may be the mountain-side,
Soft the valley sod,
Yet will fragrance sure abide
With the Love-of-God.

Where the grace of Heaven leads,
There it makes a home,
Hills a hundred and the meads
Will its pathway roam.

Carmel by the western sea
Holds your blessed bower:
Love-of-God eternally
Keep your heart a-flower.