"And Kissed Upon Your Mouth the Mystic Rose"

Today, I am combining my Every Day in May for Mary with Sarah's Weekends with Chesterton. I have never been a Chesterton follower (truly because I'm just not that deep), but I stumbled upon this poem written about Our Blessed Mother and I fell in love.

BAROCCI, Federico Fiori
Virgin and Child with Sts Simon and Jude (Madonna di San Simone)
c. 1567





by GK Chesterton

When God turned back eternity and was young, 

Ancient of Days, grown little for your mirth 

(As under the low arch the land is bright) 

Peered through you, gate of heaven--and saw the earth.

 Or shutting out his shining skies awhile 

Built you about him for a house of gold 

To see in pictured walls his storied world 

Return upon him as a tale is told. 

Or found his mirror there, the only glass 

That would not break with that unbearable light 

Till in a corner of the high dark house 

God looked on God, as ghosts meet in the night. 

Star of his morning, that un-fallen star 

In the strange starry overturn of space 

When earth and sky changed places for an hour 

And heaven looked upwards in a human face. 

Or young on your strong knees and lifted up 

Wisdom cried out, whose voice is in the street, 

And more than twilight of twi-formed cherubim 

Made of his throne indeed a mercy-seat. 

Or risen from play at your pale raiment's hem 

God, grown adventurous from all time's repose, 

Of your tall body climbed the ivory tower 

And kissed upon your mouth the mystic rose.