NIGHT AND DEATH

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21732, 14 March 1936, Page 19

NIGHT AND DEATH

"It is always a delight to read the verses of that poet and philosopher, 'A.W.,'" writes J.G.F., Tai Tapu, "and his fine verses in last Saturday's issue brought to mind the sonnet of J. Blanco White called 'Night and Death.' I cannot recall it perfectly, but I hope you will publish it, for it'would give pleasure to many. It has been called the finest sonnet in the language." J.G.F.'s view of "Night and Death" is shared by Coleridge and Leigh Hunt. Coleridge said of it: "This is the finest and most grandly conceived sonnet in our language." Leigh Hunt held that in point of thought it "stands supreme, perhaps, above all in any language: nor can we ponder it too deeply, or with too hopeful a reverence." Here it is: Mysterious Night! when our first parcut kriGW Thee from report divine, and heard thy name, .' Did he not tremble for thri lovely frame. This glorious canopy of light and blue? Yet 'neath a curtain of translucent dew, ' ~. Bathed in the rays of the great setting flame, . . . , Hesperus, with the host of heaven came, , . And loi creation widened m man's view. * "Who could have thought such darkness lay concealed Within thy beams,. O Sun! or who could find. Whilst fly and leaf and insect stood revealed. That-to such countless orbs thou mad'st us blind! Why do we then shun Death with anxious strife? If Light can N thus deceive,. wherefore . not Life?,