<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Fulfilment</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Who</span> are these that go with our girl white as snow,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The one speckless lily since the world began?</p><p class="line">They carry the well-water for our little dear</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">daughter,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Their wings are as sapphire, my good wife Anne.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Joachim, my husband, there is naught amiss,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Though something's changed our girl from the child</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">she was</p><p class="line">When from the hidden Temple she came, gentle and</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">simple-</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Surely some wonderful thing of God has come to pass!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Anne, in the dawning when the lights were low</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the first bird was stirring I was sore afeard.</p><p class="line">There was someone with our girl, clad in the rose and</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">pearl,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For I heard his talking and her answer heard.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When she plucks the grapes from the clinging vine,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When she sweeps the hearth-place and kneads the</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">bread,</p><p class="line">There's a hand fine and slender, quick aid to render.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">What light grows about her, our little maid?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Anne, in the house there's a stirring of feet,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Winnow of wings and rustle upon the stair.</p><p class="line">The flowers spring before her and the stars lean o'er her,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And a ring of light dazzles gold in her hair.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Joachim, my goodman, great things are afoot,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Hour of God is striking and the Word fulfilled.</p><p class="line">The child that shall be born shall wear the Crown of</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thorn.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Yea, for world's healing His Blood be spilled.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Mary goes by them, slender and young.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Rose of Sharon's budded and Jesse's Rod in</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">flower,</p><p class="line">Magnificat she is singing and her song soaring, winging,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Sets all the roses swinging in Heaven's bower.</p></div></body></html> · Great War