Guido Gezelle

1830-1899 / Belguim

O wild and perfect harmony

The essence and prime source of all creatures.
Jan van Ruusbroec, Bruloft
O wild and perfect harmony
of flowers along the water-way!

How glad I am to see you there
stand in garb God bid you wear!

Born to simple purity,
you stand where God willed you to be,

and there perform through sunlit hours
your simple task - just being flowers!

Pure being thus I see in you
and all you say to me is true;

and the joy which thrills through me
is one with your simplicity.

No leaf astir, so still the air,
peace and silence everywhere.

No ripple on the water face,
pellucid mirror of your grace!

No wind, no word, but far and wide
shade and peace on every side!

And, flecked with green, another sky
as deep below as heaven is high,

and over all the vista plays
a fan of sunny summer rays.

How holy, noble, lovely, fine
to see a simple flower shine,

so perfectly, so subtly planned
and fashioned by your Maker's hand!

By him, and not by man decreed,
First was sown a humble seed;

and now a flower complete I see,
and this same vision strengthens me;

you signal me a message true
and show what I myself must do,

remembering the simple trust
that, deep in all things, ever must

be hid the universal ground,
the everlasting God unbound!
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