by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)
Now through night's caressing grip
Language: English
Now through night's caressing grip Earth and all her ocans slip, Capes of China slide away From her fingers into day And th'Americas incline Coasts towards her shadow line. Now the ragged vagrants creep Into crooked holes to sleep: Just and unjust, worst and best, Change their places as they rest: Awkward lovers like in fields Where disdainful beauty yields: While the splendid and the proud Naked stand before the crowd And the losing gambler gains And the beggar entertains: May sleep's healing power extend Through these hours to our friend. Unpursued by hostile force, Traction engine, bull or horse Or revolting succubus; Calmly till the morning break Let him lie, then gently wake.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), no title, appears in The Dog Beneath the Skin, first published 1935 [author's text not yet checked 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 (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Nocturne", op. 11 no. 4 (1937), published 1938 [ high voice and piano ], from On This Island, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 23
Word count: 114