by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892)
When on my day of life the night is...
Language: English
When on my day of life the night is falling, And, in the winds from unsunned spaces blown, I hear far voices out of darkness calling My feet to paths unknown, Thou who hast made my home of life so pleasant, Leave not its tenant when its walls decay; O Love Divine, O Helper ever present, Be Thou my strength and stay! Be near me when all else is from me drifting Earth, sky, home's pictures, days of shade and shine, And kindly faces to my own uplifting The love which answers mine. I have but Thee, my Father! let Thy spirit Be with me then to comfort and uphold; No gate of pearl, no branch of palm I merit, Nor street of shining gold. Suffice it if--my good and ill unreckoned, And both forgiven through Thy abounding grace-- I find myself by hands familiar beckoned Unto my fitting place. Some humble door among Thy many mansions, Some sheltering shade where sin and striving cease, And flows forever through heaven's green expansions The river of Thy peace. There, from the music round about me stealing, I fain would learn the new and holy song, And find at last, beneath Thy trees of healing, The life for which I long.
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Text Authorship:
- by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892), "At last", appears in The Bay of Seven Islands, and Other Poems, first published 1878 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Thomas Brigham Bishop (1835 - 1905), "At last", published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Ferdinand Flemming (1778 - 1813), "When on my day of life the night is falling" [ chorus ], note: poem assigned to Flemming's music by unknown publisher ; hymn [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arthur Foote (1853 - 1937), "At last", published 1916 [ high voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Isaac Goodell , "At last", published 1910 [ vocal quartet ], hymn [sung text not yet checked]
- by Samuel Liddle (1864? - 1951), "At last", published 1900 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alicia Adélaïda Needham (1863 - 1945), "At last", published 1901 [ voice, violin, and organ ad libitum ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-09-27
Line count: 28
Word count: 209