<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Crown</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">She</span> had twelve stars for diadem;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">She had for footstool the full moon;</p><p class="line">Her quiet eyes, outshining them,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Kept memories of the night and noon</p><p class="line">And the still moms at Nazareth</p><p class="line">When in her arms the Child drew breath.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">So safe, so warm, He slept by her,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In her enfolding arms at peace,</p><p class="line">Her milky babe, little and dear;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And yet the Tree that should be His</p><p class="line">Grew in the forest, wide and high,</p><p class="line">Whose branches should fill all the sky.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">He made twelve stars into her crown</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And set the moon below her feet.</p><p class="line">He was King in Jerusalem Town,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With twelve spines for His Coronet</p><p class="line">To pierce the brain and blood and bone,</p><p class="line">Were made for Man's Redemption.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Oh, when she answered Gabriel</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With "Be it done!" could she foresee</p><p class="line">The high pangs that she took as well?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With Bethlehem should be Calvary?</p><p class="line">Or was that moment of high bliss</p><p class="line">Born with sharp pangs, fierce agonies?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Hath she beneath her Crown of Stars</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Remembrance of the thorns wherewith</p><p class="line">Her people crowned her Son? What scars,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Redder than roses in a wreath,</p><p class="line">Doth she wear in a coronal</p><p class="line">Under the lights that rise and fall?</p></div></body></html> · Great War