the lord god planted a garden

in the first white days of the world

and set there an angel warden

in a garment of light unfurled

so near to the peace of heaven

the hawk might nestle with the wren

for there in the cool of the eve'n

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 hands of god

the kiss of their sun for pardon

the song of the birds for mirth

one is nearer god's heart in a garden

than anywhere else on earth

dorothy frances gurney