Ivor Gurney: Five Songs (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Down the blue night th'unending columns press
in noiseless tumult, break and wave and flow,
now tread the far south, or lift rounds of snow
up to the white moon's hidden loveliness.
Some pause in their grave wandering, comradeless,
and turn with profound gesture vague and slow,
as who would pray good for the world, but know
their benediction empty as they bless.
They say that the Dead die not, but remain
near to the rich heirs of their grief and mirth.
I think they ride the calm mid-heaven, as these
in wise majestic melancholy train,
and watch the moon, and the still raging seas,
and men, coming and going on the earth.

First published in Poetry and Drama, December 1913.

Input by John Versmoren

?. All suddenly the wind comes soft

Language: English

Authorship

Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)

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All suddenly the wind comes soft,
  And Spring is here again;
And the hawthorn quickens with buds of green
  And my heart with buds of pain.

My heart all Winter lay so numb,
  The earth so dead and frore,
That I never thought the Spring would come,
  Or my heart wake any more.

But Winter's broken and earth has woken
  And the small birds cry again.
And the hawthorn hedge puts forth its buds,
  And my heart puts forth its pain.

First published in Poetry Review, November 1912

Input by Ted Perry