God's Garden
Dorothy Frances Gurney
(1858-1932)

The Lord God planted a garden 
In the first white days of the world, 
And He set there an angel warden 
In a garment of light enfurled. 
So near to the peace of Heaven, 
That the hawk might nest with the wren, 
For there in the cool of the even 
God walked with the first of men. 
And I dream that these garden-closes 
With their shade and their sun-flecked sod 
And their lilies and bowers of roses, 
Were laid by the hand of God. 
The kiss of the sun for pardon, 
The song of the birds for mirth,-- 
One is nearer God's heart in a garden 
Than anywhere else on earth. 
For He broke it for us in a garden 
Under the olive-trees 
Where the angel of strength was the warden 
And the soul of the world found ease.