Selected Poems of Francis Thompson — The Making of Viola [duet]
I
_The Father of Heaven.
_ Spin, daughter Mary, spin, Twirl your wheel with silver din;
Spin, daughter Mary, spin, Spin a tress for Viola.
_Angels.
_ Spin, Queen Mary, a Brown tress for Viola!
II
_The Father of Heaven.
_ Weave, hands angelical, Weave a woof of flesh to pall-- Weave, hands angelical-- Flesh to pall our Viola.
_Angels.
_ Weave, singing brothers, a Velvet flesh for Viola!
III
_The Father of Heaven.
_ Scoop, young Jesus, for her eyes, Wood-browned pools of Paradise-- Young Jesus, for the eyes, For the eyes of Viola.
_Angels.
_ Tint, Prince Jesus, a Duskèd eye for Viola!
IV
_The Father of Heaven.
_ Cast a star therein to drown, Like a torch in cavern brown, Sink a burning star to drown Whelmed in eyes of Viola.
_Angels.
_ Lave, Prince Jesus, a Star in eyes of Viola!
V
_The Father of Heaven.
_ Breathe, Lord Paraclete, To a bubbled crystal meet-- Breathe, Lord Paraclete-- Crystal soul for Viola.
_Angels.
_ Breathe, Regal Spirit, a Flashing soul for Viola!
VI
_The Father of Heaven.
_ Child-angels, from your wings Fall the roseal hoverings, Child-angels, from your wings On the cheeks of Viola.
_Angels.
_ Linger, rosy reflex, a Quenchless stain, on Viola!
VII
_All things being accomplished, saith the Father of Heaven_: Bear her down, and bearing, sing, Bear her down on spyless wing, Bear her down, and bearing, sing, With a sound of viola.
_Angels.
_ Music as her name is, a Sweet sound of Viola!
VIII
Wheeling angels, past espial, Danced her down with sound of viol;
Wheeling angels, past espial, Descanting on "Viola."
_Angels.
_ Sing, in our footing, a Lovely lilt of "Viola!"
IX
Baby smiled, mother wailed, Earthward while the sweetling sailed;
Mother smiled, baby wailed, When to earth came Viola.
_And her elders shall say_: So soon have we taught you a Way to weep, poor Viola!
X
Smile, sweet baby, smile, For you will have weeping-while;
Native in your Heaven is smile,-- But your weeping, Viola?
Whence your smiles, we know, but ah!
Whence your weeping, Viola?
-- Our first gift to you is a Gift of tears, my Viola!
TO MY GODCHILD
