At first you will know not what they mean, br And you may never know, br And we may never tell you: -- br These sudden flashes in your soul, br Like lambent lightning on snowy clouds br At midnight when the moon is full. br They come in solitude, or perhaps br You sit with your friend, and all at once br A silence falls on speech, and his eyes br Without a flicker glow at you: -- br You two have seen the secret together, br He sees it in you, and you in him. br And there you sit thrilling lest the Mystery br Stand before you and strike you dead br With a splendor like the sun's. br Be brave, all souls who have such visions! br As your body's alive as mine is dead, br You're catching a little whiff of the ether br Reserved for God Himself.