Passion Flowers (Watson)/The Answer

The Answer.

I had sought in the heart of the red, red rose,
From the perfumed lips of each blossom that blows;
I had asked of the swift winged swallow in flight,
Of the palpitant wind in the hush of the night.

I had gazed in the sapphire sheen of the deep,
And called on the stars when the world was asleep;
I had delved in the wisdom of sages of old,
Encrusted with rust, and with dust and with mould.

I had sought for the solving of life's mystic "why,"
For the purpose of life, why men should not die
And escape from the turmoil, the weight and the pain
Which humanity ever has battled in vain.

But baffled by rose and by swallow and wind,
And inscrutable deep, nowhere could I find
A reason for being, for toiling—for life—
For grinding existence and pitiful strife.

But sudden there passed, as a swift flash of light,
A radiant soul, gift divine to my sight;
Enraptured, ecstatic, transported, I rose,
For the vision it brought me the balm of life's woes.

Ah! the problem, 'tis solved, worked out and unsealed;
To my heart comes the answer, by thy heart revealed:
Life's purpose and reason, on earth and above,
You have taught me—ah! dearest, 'tis love, it is love.