Because thou art nearest br To the mystery of the fire br That is Earth's and the soul's br And the body's desire, br Whereof we were made br As a song out of sound, br Trembling together br And together enwound, br O frailer, more fading br The hope and the lure br That are not where thou art:-- br They fade nor endure, br But in thee is the secret, br The star, and the fire, br Ever nearer and dearer, br My joy, my desire.