Inscription on the Garden Gate

Pause friend and read before
you enter here.
This vine clad wall encloses Holy ground.
Herein a mellowed garden
dreams away the years.
Steeped in serene, sweet light,
and muted sound.
Herein tranquility and
peace abide.
For God walks here
at cool evening tide.
Pause friend, and strip
from out your heart,
all vanity, all bitterness,
all hate.
Quench for this hour
the fever of your fears.
Then, treading softly,
pass within this gate.
There, where the ancient trees
await, hushed and dimmed,
May you find God
and walk with Him awhile. 

note: this is found at the entrance of Holy Family Retreat house. After years of visiting this special place I decided to leave a small part of me there.