Mother, is this the darkness of the end, <br />The Shadow of Death? and is that outer sea <br />Infinite imminent Eternity? <br />And does the death-pang by man's seed sustained <br />In Time's each instant cause thy face to bend <br />Its silent prayer upon the Son, while He <br />Blesses the dead with His hand silently <br />To His long day which hours no more offend? <br />Mother of grace, the pass is difficult, <br />Keen as these rocks, and the bewildered souls <br />Throng it like echoes, blindly shuddering through. <br />Thy name, O Lord, each spirit's voice extols, <br />Whose peace abides in the dark avenue <br />Amid the bitterness of things occult.<br /><br />Dante Gabriel Rossetti<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-our-lady-of-the-rocks-by-leonardo-da-vinci/
