by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 - 1909)
For a day and a night Love sang to us,...
Language: English
For a day and a night Love sang to us, played with us, Folded us round from the dark and the light; And our hearts were fulfilled of the music he made with us, Made with our hearts and our lips while he stayed with us, Stayed in mid passage his pinions from flight For a day and a night. From his foes that kept watch with his wings had he hidden us, Covered us close from the eyes that would smite, From the feet that had tracked and the tongues that had chidden us Sheltering in shade of the myrtles forbidden us Spirit and flesh growing one with delight For a day and a night. But his wings will not rest and his feet will not stay for us: Morning is here in the joy of its might; With his breath has he sweetened a night and a day for us: Now let him pass, and the myrtles make way for us; Love can but last in us here at his height For a day and a night.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Athenæum, August 1875Text Authorship:
- by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 - 1909), "At parting", appears in Poems and Ballads, Second Series [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 Roland Farley (1892 - 1932), "For a day and a night", <<1932. [voice and piano] [text not verified]
- by Victor Harris (1869 - 1943), "A day, a night", published <<1940. [voice and piano] [text not verified]
- by Norman Houston O'Neill (1875 - 1934), "Before dawn", 1917. [women's chorus and orchestra] [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-01-27
Line count: 18
Word count: 179