by (Harold) Hart Crane (1899 - 1932)
Meditation
Language: English
I have drawn my hands away Toward peace and the grey margins of the day. The andante of vain hopes and lost regret Falls like slow rain that whispers to forget,-- Like a song that neither questions nor replies It laves with coolness tarnished lips and eyes. I have drawn my hands away At last to touch the ungathered rose. O stay, Moment of dissolving happiness! Astir Already in the sky, night’s chorister Has brushed a petal from the jasmine moon, And the heron has passed by, alas, how soon! I have drawn my hands away Like ships for guidance in the lift and spray Of stars that urge them toward an unknown goal, Drift, O wakeful one, O restless soul, Until the glittering white open hand Of heaven thou shalt read and understand.
Authorship:
- by (Harold) Hart Crane (1899 - 1932) [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 Stanley Grill (b. 1953), "Meditation", 2022, copyright © 2022 [ mezzo-soprano and orchestra ], from Stone and Star, no. 1, confirmed with an online score [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-04-11
Line count: 18
Word count: 134