Into the soft surrounding air
A flower grew,
Straight and tall and wondrous fair,
Of perfect hue.
Into the warm surrounding air,
All the day long,
It breathed a soft, sweet-sounding prayer,
Like to a song.
It prayed that in its perfect grace
Some soul might see
The way to run a purer race,
And nobler be;
That, in the whiteness of its virgin crown,
Some heart might wake
To hopes and longings yet unknown,
For its sweet sake.
....
Tis thus one heart has come to know
That selfless prayer,
Reaching the Love whence all joys flow,
Finds answer there.
*Science and Health, p. 1.
