Angelic minds, they say, by simple intelligence
\nBehold the Forms of nature. They discern
\nUnerringly the Archtypes, all the verities
\nWhich mortals lack or indirectly learn.
\nTransparent in primordial truth, unvarying,
\nPure Earthness and right Stonehood from their clear,
\nHigh eminence are seen; unveiled, the seminal
\nHuge Principles appear.<\/p>\n
The Tree-ness of the tree they know-the meaning of
\nArboreal life, how from earth\u2019s salty lap
\nThe solar beam uplifts it; all the holiness
\nEnacted by leaves\u2019 fall and rising sap;<\/p>\n
But never an angel knows the knife-edged severance
\nOf sun from shadow where the trees begin,
\nThe blessed cool at every pore caressing us
\n\u2014An angel has no skin.<\/p>\n
They see the Form of Air; but mortals breathing it
\nDrink the whole summer down into the breast.
\nThe lavish pinks, the field new-mown, the ravishing
\nSea-smells, the wood-fire smoke that whispers Rest.
\nThe tremor on the rippled pool of memory
\nThat from each smell in widening circles goes,
\nThe pleasure and the pang \u2014can angels measure it?
\nAn angel has no nose.<\/p>\n
The nourishing of life, and how it flourishes
\nOn death, and why, they utterly know; but not
\nThe hill-born, earthy spring, the dark cold bilberries.
\nThe ripe peach from the southern wall still hot
\nFull-bellied tankards foamy-topped, the delicate
\nHalf-lyric lamb, a new loaf\u2019s billowy curves,
\nNor porridge, nor the tingling taste of oranges.
\n\u2014An angel has no nerves.<\/p>\n
Far richer they! I know the senses\u2019 witchery
\nGuards us like air, from heavens too big to see;
\nImminent death to man that barb\u2019d sublimity
\nAnd dazzling edge of beauty unsheathed would be.
\nYet here, within this tiny, charmed interior,
\nThis parlour of the brain, their Maker shares
\nWith living men some secrets in a privacy
\nForever ours, not theirs.<\/p>\n