I Came to Love You Late
O Beauty so ancient and new
I came to love You late
You were within me and I was outside
where I rushed about wildly searching for You
like some monster loose in Your beautiful world
You were with me but I was not with You
You called me
You shouted to me
You wrapped me in Your Splendor
You broke past my deafness
You bathed me in Your Light
You sent my blindness reeling
You gave out such a delightful fragrance
and I drew it in and came breathing hard after You
I tasted, and it made me hunger and thirst
You touched me
and I burned to know Your Peace"

~St. Augustine of Hippo