BELOVED, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is growing…
““BELOVED, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is growing there; From joy the holy branches start, And all the trembling flowers they bear. The changing colours of its fruit Have dowered the stars with merry light; The surety of its hidden root Has planted quiet in the night; The shaking of its leafy head Has given the waves their melody, And made my lips and music wed, Murmuring a wizard song for thee. There the Loves a circle go, The flaming circle of our days, Gyring, spiring to and fro In those great ignorant leafy ways; Remembering all that shaken hair And how the wingèd sandals dart, Thine eyes grow full of tender care: Beloved, gaze in thine own heart. Gaze no more in the bitter glass The demons, with their subtle guile, Lift up before us when they pass, Or only gaze a little while; For there a fatal image grows That the stormy night receives, Roots half hidden under snows, Broken boughs and blackened leaves. For all things turn to barrenness In the dim glass the demons hold, The glass of outer weariness, Made when God slept in times of old. There, through the broken branches, go The ravens of unresting thought; Flying, crying, to and fro, Cruel claw and hungry throat, Or else they stand and sniff the wind, And shake their ragged wings; alas! Thy tender eyes grow all unkind: Gaze no more in the bitter glass. - The Two Trees””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem urges inner reflection over external negativity, using nature imagery to illustrate spiritual growth and the danger of focusing on harmful visions.
In simple terms: Look inward, avoid harmful distractions.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner peace, ignore toxic influences.
Themes
spirituality
self‑reflection
nature
inner peace
danger of negativity
Mood
contemplative
poetic
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal meditation
- creative writing
- mental health coping
- spiritual practice
- artistic analysis
Key Concepts
metaphor
symbolism
dualism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does external negativity affect your inner peace?
- What practices help you shift focus from harmful images?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on inner vision may ignore external realities that need attention.