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They have brought gold and spices to my King,
Incense and precious stuff and ivory.
O holy Mother mine, what can I bring,
That so my Lord may deign to look on me?
They sing a sweeter song than I can sing,
All crowned and glorified exceedingly:
I, bound on earth, weep for my trespassing, -
They sing the song of love, in heaven set free.
Then answered me my Mother, and her voice
Spake to my heart; yea, answered in my heart:
‘Sing, saith He, to the heavens, to earth, Rejoice:
Thou also lift thy heart to Him above:
He seeks not thine, but thee such as thou art,
For lo his banner over thee is Love.’
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
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