Good day friends. Today I wanted to share with you a favorite poem of mine and a special gift for you.
First, the poem. I initially heard the following poem when browsing the Poetry Out Loud website, a wonderful poetry recitation competition. I heard this poem recited by the 2014 Poetry Out Loud winner and I fell in love.
The author is Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. She lived in the late 180o’s – early 1900’s. She was a poet, journalist, and writer. She traveled on the abolitionist circuit as a speaker and activist. The poem is called ‘Let the Light Enter: The Dying Words of Goethe’ and her words exploded in my soul. I will not try to say more, instead I will let the poem speak for itself. I highly recommend listening to the recitation by Anita Norman (the video is right below the written poem.) She is an outstanding speaker who brings this poem to life.
Let the Light Enter
By Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
The Dying Words of Goethe
“Light! more light! the shadows deepen,
And my life is ebbing low,
Throw the windows widely open:
Light! more light! before I go.
“Softly let the balmy sunshine
Play around my dying bed,
E’er the dimly lighted valley
I with lonely feet must tread.
“Light! more light! for Death is weaving
Shadows ‘round my waning sight,
And I fain would gaze upon him
Through a stream of earthly light.”
Not for greater gifts of genius;
Not for thoughts more grandly bright,
All the dying poet whispers
Is a prayer for light, more light.
Heeds he not the gathered laurels,
Fading slowly from his sight;
All the poet’s aspirations
Centre in that prayer for light.
Gracious Saviour, when life’s day-dreams
Melt and vanish from the sight,
May our dim and longing vision
Then be blessed with light, more light.
As this year comes to a close I am reminded that what we all need is “light, more light.” Nothing compares with light. I pray that each of you and your families are filled with “light, more light” this holiday season and in the year to come. It is such a blessing to be in community with each and everyone of you and to thank you . . .
A Gift For You
As a gift to each of you, who are part of the Expanding Wisdom Community I have just completed a 42 page E-Book entitled ‘A Guide to Teaching Classically’. May it serve you and your family as one way to let in a little more light in the months and years to come.
If you are already a member of the Expanding Wisdom community you should already have an email from me in your inbox with a link to download your free copy. If you are not a member of the community you can become one and receive your free copy of ‘A Guide to Teaching Classically’. The image below will take you to the ‘A Guide to Teaching Classically’ page where you can learn more about the book and learn how you can receive a copy for your self. {its free} Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you for gifting us with the guide to teaching classically. I look forward to reading it. And the poem is one to attend to…
It is my pleasure and thank you so much for reading.