Chapter XII: The Garden

The trees were housed with nests, and every one Was like a city of song. The streams too Were voluble; they laughed and gurgled there Like men who, at a banquet, sit and drink And chatter. All the grass was like a robe Of velvet, and there was no need of rain. In dells roofed with green leafage, nature spread Couches meet for a Sybarite. Sweet food The servant trees extended us to eat In their long, branchy arms. Even the sun Was tempered, and the sky was always blue. Corpulent grapes along the crystal rocks, Made consorts of the long-robed lady leaves. The butterfly and bee, from morn till eve, Consulted with the roses, lip to lip, Which grew in rank profusion. They at times Dared to invade the empire of the grass, And overthrew its green-robed, spear-armed hosts. The lilies too were like an army there, And every night they struck their snowy tents, To please their great commander, the round moon-- God's lily in the everlasting sky.