15 MAY 1909, Page 19

POETRY.

TRANSFORMATION.

(FROM THE PERSIAN OP JALALHDDIN RUMI.) FOR as a stone, so Eastern legends run, Wooed by unwearied patience of the sun Piercing its dense opacity, has grown From a mere pebble to a precious stone, Its flintiness impermeable and crass Turned crystalline to let the sunlight pass ; So hearts long years impassive and opaque Whom terror could not crush nor sorrow break, Yielding at last to love's refining ray Transforming and transmuting, day by day, From dull grown clear, from earthly grown divine,• Flash back to God the light that made them shine; CLAUD FIELD.