Late Have I Loved Thee

Late have I loved you, 

O Beauty ever ancient, 

ever new, 

late have I loved you! 

You were within me, 

but I was outside, 

and it was there that I searched for you. 

In my unloveliness 

I plunged into the lovely things which you created. 

You were with me, 

but I was not with you. 

Created things kept me from you; 

yet if they had not been in you 

they would have not been at all. 

You called, 

you shouted, 

and you broke through my deafness. 

You flashed, 

you shone, 

and you dispelled my blindness. 

You breathed your fragrance on me; 

I drew in breath 

and now I pant for you. 

I have tasted you, 

now I hunger and thirst for more. 

You touched me, 

and I burned for your peace.

(St Augustine of Hippo)