B. L. Add. MS. 45,298A, ff. 29-30, titled "Kisses"

'Twas in church on Palm Sunday,
Listening what the Priest did say
Of the kiss that did betray,

That the thoughts did come to me
How the olives used to be
Growing in Gethsemane;

That the thoughts upon me came
Of the lanterns' steady flame[,]
Of the softly whispered name;

Of how kiss and words did sound
When the olives stood around[,]
While the robe lay on the ground.

Then the words the Lord did speak
And that kiss in Holy Week
Dreams of many a kiss did make;

Lovers' kiss beneath the moon[,]
With it sorrow cometh soon;
Juliet's within the tomb;

Angelico's in quiet light;
'Mid the aureoles very bright
God is looking from the height;

There the monk his love doth meet,
Once he fell before her feet,
Ere within the Abbey sweet,

[f. 29v] He, while music rose alway
From the Church, to God did pray
That his life might pass away.

There, between the angel-rows
With the light flame on his brows,
With his friend, the deacon goes;

Hand in hand they go together,
Loving hearts they go together
Where the Presence shineth ever.

Kiss upon the death[-]bed given,
Kiss on dying forehead given,
When the soul goes up to Heaven.

Many thoughts beneath the sun
Thought together, life is done[,]
Yet for ever love doth run.

Willow, grey against the blue,
Where the light clouds come and go,
Mindeth me of kiss untrue.

Christ[,] thine awful cross is thrown
Round the whole world, and thy sun
Woeful kisses looks upon--

Eastward slope the shadows now,
Very light the wind does blow,
Scarce it lifts the laurels low.

[f. 30] I cannot say the things I would,
I cannot think the things I would,
How the cross at evening stood.

Very blue the sky above,
Very sweet the faint clouds move,
Yet I cannot think of love.

Pub. CW, XXIV, 76-77.

[76]

That the thought did come to me
How the olives used to be
Growing in Gethsemane:

That the thoughts upon me came
Of the lantern's steady flame,
Of the softly whispered name,

Of how kiss and words did sound
When the olives stood around,
While the robe lay on the ground.

Then the words the Lord did speak,
And that kiss in Holy Week
Dreams of many a kiss did make:

Lover's kiss beneath the moon—
With it sorrow cometh soon,
Juliet's within the tomb,

Angelico's in quiet light,
Mid the aureoles very bright
God is looking from the height.

There the monk his love doth meet:
Once he fell before her feet
Ere within the Abbey sweet

He, while music rose alway
From the Church, to God did pray
That his life might pass away.

[77]

There between the angel rows
With the light flame on his brows,
With his friend, the deacon goes:

Hand in hand they go together,
Loving hearts they go together
Where the Presence shineth ever.

Kiss upon the death-bed given,
Kiss on dying forehead given
When the soul goes up to Heaven.

Many thoughts beneath the sun
Thought together: Life is done,
Yet for ever love doth run.

Willow standing 'gainst the blue
Where the light clouds come and go,
Mindeth me of kiss untrue.

Christ thine awful cross is thrown
Round the whole world, and thy Sun
Woful kisses looks upon.

Eastward slope the shadows now,
Very light the wind does blow,
Scarce it lifts the laurels low;

I cannot say the things I would,
I cannot think the things I would,
How the Cross at evening stood.

Very blue the sky above,
Very sweet the faint clouds move,
Yet I cannot think of love.