by Mary Howitt, née Mary Botham (1799 - 1888)
The God‑enamel'd flower
Language: English
The God-enamel'd flower At early dawn looks up, And gently would unfold Its pencil'd cup; Whilst to the sun it saith -- "Arise and chase the night, Wipe off this tear of dew -- More light! more light!" When twilight steals away, The wood-bird, singing, grieves, And calls the evening back To tint the leaves: It saith -- "Oh, linger yet, I still, in airy flight, Would bathe my golden breast -- Stay, stay, O light!" And thus the soul cries out, When dawn begins to break, And in the sky it sees The first grey streak: -- "Away, away, dark sins, Ye've held me long in night; I long to walk in day -- More light! more light!" Then comes the life's broad noon, With sun and sultry beam; And oft the soul doth err In act and dream: Sun-spots arise to dim The perfectness of sight, Unsatisfied, it cries -- "Temper the light!" Then evening stealeth on -- The last hours of the strife, When angels beckon us To leave this life: Then as the soul soars up To heaven's most holy height, It crieth, plaintively -- "O Lord! more light!" More light! more light! to see What mystic path I tread, What dangers hover o'er My heart and head! Oh, stretch thy guiding hand And lead me through this night; Then bathe me in a flood Of perfect light!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Mary Howitt, née Mary Botham (1799 - 1888), ""Light! More light!" - Such were the last words of Goethe", written 1846 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Henry Théodore Pontet (1833 - 1902), "Light, more light", published 1878 [voice and piano], London [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-01-10
Line count: 48
Word count: 223