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The Starry Vaults of Night
Adagio teneremente
Per Cristo Gesu
Angel choirs, bend down the starry vaults
Of night, come down, and consecrate
This too brief hour with Heaven’s music,
Healing balm of unbearable delight,
O Song made flesh, from the firmament
Bend down to Sing me, my very song
My plight, plight me Lord past my soul’s
Poverty, so I may sing with You this life,
For if I this venture fail, then never
Did I live or love, and yet You live, by
Singing, so I dare a short duet with You,
I must sing Your music of the night,
Hide Your beauty, scintillating bright,
In stars’ eternal light, hide me too,
That I may not obscure Your creation’s
Brilliant daybreak, Your stars’ white,
Allargando
Bursting brightness, sparkling sapphire
Seas, meadows glistening at dawn, woods
With red cedars strewn, which incense
Your Sabbath day, here let fall no burning
Leaf, let no bird call, with fog muffle
The mountains’ luster of emerald,
Blue, and gold, lest I my poor song
Fail before their greater melody,
But let me only with music be, the ballad
Of all my days with Your desires, and I
Am more than halfway home to Your
Invisible throne, where Music Absolute
Forever Fountains, where seraphim
Never cease, before God, to chant
Glory to Your Name, there inebriate
My soul invisible, so my pain be
Redeemed by Ever Irresistible Song.
In Honor of Edna St. Vincent Millay
1892 - 1950
For Mary Gerlitz
Musician Extraodinaire
Christmas
December 25, 2005
Valyermo and Sun Valley
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