I <br /> <br />She gave up beauty in her tender youth, <br />Gave all her hope and joy and pleasant ways; <br />She covered up her eyes lest they should gaze <br />On vanity, and chose the bitter truth. <br />Harsh towards herself, towards others full of ruth, <br />Servant of servants, little known to praise, <br />Long prayers and fasts trenched on her nights and days: <br />She schooled herself to sights and sounds uncouth <br />That with the poor and stricken she might make <br />A home, until the least of all sufficed <br />Her wants; her own self learned she to forsake, <br />Counting all earthly gain but hurt and loss. <br />So with calm will she chose and bore the cross <br />And hated all for love of Jesus Christ. <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />They knelt in silent anguish by her bed, <br />And could not weep; but calmly there she lay. <br />All pain had left her; and the sun's last ray <br />Shone through upon her, warming into red <br />The shady curtains. In her heart she said: <br />'Heaven opens; I leave these and go away; <br />The Bridegroom calls,—shall the Bride seek to stay?' <br />Then low upon her breast she bowed her head. <br />O lily flower, O gem of priceless worth, <br />O dove with patient voice and patient eyes, <br />O fruitful vine amid a land of dearth, <br />O maid replete with loving purities, <br />Thou bowedst down thy head with friends on earth <br />To raise it with the saints in Paradise.<br /><br />Christina Georgina Rossetti<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-portrait-6/
