by Edward Carpenter (1844 - 1929)

Language: English 
 ... 

A tiny perfect sea-shell on the shore 
By the waves gently laid (the awful waves!) -- 
By trembling hands received -- a folded message --  
A babe yet slumbering, with a ripple on its face 
Remindful of the ocean 

And two twined forms that overbend it, smiling, 
And wonder to what land Love must have journeyed, 
Who brought this back -- this word of sweetest meaning:  
Two lives made one, and visible as one.    

And herein all Creation.

Composition:

    Set to music by John Woods Duke (1899 - 1984), "The babe", 1924, published 1925, copyright © 1925, stanzas 5-7 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], G. Schirmer; note: the setting begins with the words 'A tiny perfect sea-shell on the shore'

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2015-11-03
Line count: 34
Word count: 222