The blood-red boughs of the Judas-tree were blooming spray by spray,
While I hung Christ within my heart between two sins to-day.
The one was a sin of the flesh (so sweet can a woman's body be!)
The other a sin of the soul — doubt of its immortality!

The blood-red boughs of the Judas-tree were blooming on the hill.
My soul's sin within me died — strangled by my will.
But the sin of my flesh cried out for life — again to clasp her form.
" Dear God," it said, " there is no bliss, beyond the grave, so warm!"

The blood-red boughs of the Judas-tree will wither; and my soul
Entreat to be uplifted into Paradise — whole!
But I fear my body's sin still will hang and look on earth
Where she is. Ah, so madly much is a woman's beauty worth!