Poems (King)/In the Desert

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In the Desert
OVER desert wastes and lonely
  Comes a Maiden full of grace,
Bearing in her arms the Christ-child,
  Saviour of a fallen race.
Long the day, the journey weary—
  Pillowed now on earth's warm breast,
Guarded by the holy Joseph,
  Babe and Mother sink to rest.

While they slumber, shining angels
  Bid the sandy wastes to bloom:
Lo! acacia, fragrant balsam,
  Almond, fig, and willow-plume
Spring to verdant life and blossom;
  Dances there a fountain bright;
Over green and velvet mosses
  Bends the lily gleaming white.

And as dawn with rosy fingers
  Flingeth wide the gates of day,
Birdsong, windsong, perfume, flowers,
  Fondest greetings humbly pay
To the Baby-God eternal,
  And the Mother-Maiden mild,
At whose coming, isles of verdure
  Blossom in the desert wild!

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