by Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)
The last invocation See original
Language: English
At the last, tenderly, From the walls of the powerful, fortress'd house, From the clasp of the knitted locks -- from the keep of the well-closed doors, Let me be wafted. Let me glide noiselessly forth; With the key of softness unlock the locks -- with a whisper, Set up the doors, O Soul! Tenderly! be not impatient! (Strong is your hold, O mortal flesh! Strong is your hold, O Love.)
Composition:
- Set to music by Ernst Bacon (1898 - 1990), "The last invocation", c1927, published 1930 [ voice and piano or orchestra ], from Songs at Parting: A Selection of Walt Whitman's Poems, no. 2
Text Authorship:
- by Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892), "The last invocation", appears in Leaves of Grass, first published 1900
See other settings of this text.
Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 11
Word count: 70