by William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903)
A late lark twitters from the quiet...
Language: English
A late lark twitters from the quiet skies; And from the west, Where the sun, his day's work ended, Lingers as in content, There falls on the old, grey city An influence luminous and serene, A shining peace. The smoke ascends In a rosy-and-golden haze. The spires Shine, and are changed. In the valley Shadows rise. The lark sings on. The sun, Closing his benediction, Sinks, and the darkening air Thrills with a sense of the triumphing night -- Night with her train of stars And her great gift of sleep. So be my passing! My task accomplished and the long day done, My wages taken, and in my heart Some late lark singing, Let me be gathered to the quiet west, The sundown splendid and serene, Death.
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Text Authorship:
- by William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1903), "Margaritæ Sorori", from A Book of Verses, first published 1888 [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 Maurice Blower (1894 - 1982), "Evensong", published 1934 [ SATBB chorus a cappella ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Frederick Delius (1862 - 1934), "A late lark", 1924-1929, published 1931, first performed 1929 [ tenor and orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jonathan Thomas Horne , "A late lark", published 1959 [ satb chorus a cappella ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Theodore Livingston Raynor (1909 - 1970), "A Late Lark", op. 66 (1945) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arthur Shepherd (1880 - 1958), "Sundown" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Edward Thomas Sweeting (1863 - 1930), "Evening", published 1924 [ SSATBarB chorus a cappella ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-13
Line count: 23
Word count: 127