Passion Flowers (Watson)/In the Beginning

In the Beginning.

Such time as soulless space no creature knew,
When striving forces shape nor form had traced,
When yet unconscious chaos held its sway,
And darkness brooded o'er the seething waste,
There rose from out the swirling, lurid mass,
That throbbed in molten waves of quivering might,
A wondrous thing, a sphere set free and whirled
Athwart the blackness of the senseless night.
But One kept watch above the wars of force;
His will attraction and cohesion lent;
His breath the mighty bubble trembling, felt,
As reeling into space 'twas onward sent.

Long cycles came and went, His breath slow cooled
The spinning sphere and checked its restless speed,
Its molten liquid chilled and motion wild
It tamed to feel the yoke His word decreed.
Then granite ribs encased the restless ball,
And humid clouds spread wings for upward flight,
Then sudden Earth grew conscious of her Lord,
And knew His smile: that moment there was light!

Then verdure came, and humble crawling things,
And blossoms, quick to try their gladsome life,
And birds to wing the fragrant azure sky,
And fill the upper space with songful strife;
And then a silvern mist, a dewy sheen,
Which wrapped the earth, as in a garment fair,
For her baptismal morn, and over all
A wondrous Presence: God was everywhere.

And all was good that was, and yet was not
Inscribed by angels on stupendous scroll
Of things created, one which might aspire—
Among them all was not a living soul.
Then God took counsel with Himself, the while
Slow length'ning shadows fell, and Silence laid
Her wand on listening hill and vale, and lo!
God spake, and man in His own image made.
Complete the earth. Long eons saw it grow
From dismal nothingness to vernal sod
Instinct with life, but incomplete, 'till breathed
A soul which shared the nature of its God.