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