“Hound of Heaven”

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat -- and a voice beat
More instant than the Feet --
"All things betray thee, who betrays Me."

“Alas, you knew not
How little worthy of any love you are!
Whom will you find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from you I did but take,
Not for your harms,
But just that you might seek it in My arms.
All which the child's mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for you at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come."
Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly
"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom you seek!
You dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."

by Francis Thomson