by George William Russell (1867 - 1935)
The great breath
Language: English
Its edges foamed with amethyst and rose,
Withers once more the old blue flower of day:
There where the ether like a diamond glows
Its petals fade away.
A shadowy tumult stirs the dusky air;
Sparkle the delicate dews, the distant snows;
The great deep thrills, for through it everywhere
The breath of Beauty blows.
I saw how all the trembling ages past,
Moulded to her by deep and deeper breath,
Neared to the hour when Beauty breathes her last
And knows herself in death.
Text Authorship:
- by George William Russell (1867 - 1935), "The great breath", appears in Homeward: Songs by the Way, first published 1894 [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 (James) Shaun Hamilton Dillon (1944 - 2018), "The great breath", first performed 1974 [ soprano, flute, guitar, and piano ], from cantata Cantata in Memoriam [sung text not yet checked]
- by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "The great breath", op. 34 (Seven Sets of Seven Songs, Set VII) no. 4 (1918) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 85