1.

The rose in a mystery, where is it found?

Is it anything true? Does it grow upon ground? —

It was made of earth’s mould but it went from men’s eyes

And its place is a secret and shut in the skies.

Refrain —

In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine

Find me a place by thee, mother of mine.

2.

But where was it formerly? which is the spot

That was blest in it once, though now it is not? —

It is Galilee’s growth: it grew at God’s will

And broke into bloom upon Nazareth hill.

In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine

I shall look on thy loveliness, mother of mine.

 

3.

What was its season then? how long ago?

When was the summer that saw the bud blow? —

Two thousands of years are near upon past

Since its birth and its bloom and its breathing its last.

In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine

I shall keep time with thee, mother of mine.

 

4.

Tell me the name now, tell me its name.

The heart guesses easily: is it the same? —

Mary the Virgin, well the heart knows,

She is the mystery, she is that rose.

In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine

I shall come home to thee, mother of mine.

 

5.

Is Mary the rose then? Mary the tree?

But the blossom, the blossom there, who can it be? —

Who can her rose be? It could be but one:

Christ Jesus our Lord, her God and her son.

In the gardens of God, in the daylight divine

Shew me thy son, mother, mother of mine.