Anthem
Language: English
Like sleepers, we drift down Night's cold corridors, Unseeing, unhearing, unfeeling. Then, in the distance, a ray of light Appears, growing into a brightness As white as an angel's wings. And in its celestial glow Our lives are forever altered. This radiance is love And in our illuminated souls A new knowledge is formed. Fantastic landscapes appear; Choirs of Cherubim intone A music never heard before: While compassion unveils a world Of warmth, kindness, unselfishness, and care. Love is not consolation. It is light. It is a light acquired by patience and pain, Doubt and understanding, sorrow and forgiveness. Encircled by torch-bearing angels Banishing the dark. We are transformed, Transformed and Enlightened by these blessed guides of love. Love is light.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019), "Anthem", 2006-7 [chorus], from Evensong: Of Love and Angels, no. 9. [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 121