VocalEssence Ensemble Singers

In the Gardens of God, in the daylight divine,
Find me a place by thee, Mother of mine,
The Rose in a Mystery, where is it found?
Is it anything true? Does it grow upon ground?
It was made of earth’s mould, but it went from men’s eyes,
And its place is a secret, and shut in the skies.

In the Gardens of God, I shall look on thy loveliness,
Mother of mine, but where was it formerly?
Which is the spot that was blest in it once,
Though now it is not?
It is Galilee’s growth: It grew at God’s will
And broke into bloom upon Nazareth Hill.

I shall keep time with thee, Mother of mine,
Tell me the name now, tell me its name:
The heart guesses easily, is it the same?
Mary, the Virgin, well, the heart knows,
She is the Mystery, she is that Rose.

I shall come home to thee, Mother of mine.
Is Mary that Rose, then? Mary, the tree?
But the Blossom, the Blossom there, who can it be?
Who can her Rose be? Who? It could be but One:
Christ Jesus, our Lord, her God and her Son.

In the Gardens of God, daylight divine
Show me thy Son, Mother, Mother of mine,
Does it smell sweet, too, in that holy place?
Sweet unto God, and the sweetness is grace.

The breath of it bathes the great heaven above,
In grace that is charity, grace that is love.
To thy breast, to thy glory divine,
Draw me by charity, Mother of mine.
—Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)