by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
The keen stars were twinkling See original
Language: English
The keen stars were twinkling And the fair moon was rising among them, Dear Jane: The harp was tinkling, But the notes were not clear till you sang them Again. As the moon's soft splendor O'er the faint cold starlight of heaven Is thrown, So your voice most tender To the strings without soul had then given Its own. The stars will awaken, Though the moon sleep a full hour later, Tonight; No leaf will be shaken Whilst the dews of your melody scatter Delight. Though the sound overpowers, Sing again, with your dear voice revealing A tone Of some world far from ours Where music and moonlight and feeling Are one.
Note: The Trelawny manuscript is headed "To Jane"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Composition:
- Set to music by Richard Bruce Faith (b. 1926), "The keen stars were twinkling"
Text Authorship:
- by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "To -----", first published 1839
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 116