Midnight

Henry Vaughan 1621 (Brecknockshire) – 1695



WHEN to my Eyes
Whilst deep sleep others catches,
           Thine host of spies,
The stars, shine in their watches,
           I do survey
           Each busy ray,
And how they work, and wind ;
           And wish each beam
           My soul doth stream
With the like ardour shin'd ;
           What emanations,
           Quick vibrations,
And bright stirs are there !
           What thin ejections,
           Cold affections,
And slow motions here !
2.

           Thy heav'ns, some say,
Are a fiery-liquid light,
           Which mingling aye
Streams, and flames thus to the sight.
           Come then, my God !
           Shine on this blood
And water, in one beam ;
           And Thou shalt see
           Kindled by Thee
Both liquors burn, and stream.
           O what bright quickness,
           Active brightness,
And celestial flows,
           Will follow after
           On that water,
Which Thy Spirit blows !

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 23, 2023

38 sec read
67

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCCDEEDFFXAFXX CGXGXXEHHEIIJKKJ
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 936
Words 127
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 17, 16

Henry Vaughan

Henry Vaughan was a Welsh author, physician and metaphysical poet. Vaughan and his twin brother, the hermetic philosopher and alchemist Thomas Vaughan, were the sons of Thomas Vaughan and his wife Denise of 'Trenewydd', Newton, in Brecknockshire, Wales. Their grandfather, William, was the owner of Tretower Court. Vaughan spent most of his life in the village of Llansantffraed, near Brecon, where he is also buried. more…

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