A GREAT RING OF PURE AND ENDLESS LIGHT IBD

Sinopse

A Great Ring of Pure and Endless Light: Selected PoemsBy Henry VaughanA selection of the finest of Henry VaughanâÇÖs Metaphysical poems, which are filled with a âÇÖdeep, but dazzling darknessâÇÖ. Lesser known Vaughan works, including some love poems, are collected here beside the famous pieces such as âÇÖThe Morning WatchâÇÖ, âÇÖThe WorldâÇÖ and âÇÖThe áNightâÇÖ. Henry Vaughan is the Metaphysical poet from the Welsh borders (he was born at Newton-upon-Usk, Breconshire, in 1621). He went up to Oxford, studied law in London, wrote some astoundingáreligious poetry, and died in 1695. The dazzling night pervades Henry VaughanâÇÖs poetry. It is a cosmic night, a night of regeneration. Many of the Vaughan poems collected here pivot around an experience of the cosmic, religious night, from âÇÖThe WorldâÇÖ, with its famous, much-anthologized opening lines: âÇÖI saw Eternity the other night | Like a great Ring of pure and endless lightâÇÖ. It is a night of rebirth, the night as a dark womb, in which the world is reborn. Cosmic rebirth is one of the major themes in VaughanâÇÖs poetry, and especially in his collection or series of sacred poems, Silex Scintillans. Henry Vaughan is one of the most radiant of British poets. Like other Metaphysical poets (poets such as George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Andrew Marvell and John Donne), the deep darkness of the alchemical ferment in VaughanâÇÖs poetry is balanced by a radiance, a light shining out of the darkness. Itáis a divine light, as found in the Mystical Theology of theáinfluential Christian writer, Dionysius the Areopagite. DionysiusâÇÖáNeoplatonic visions of divinity and the celestial hierarchies ofáangels influenced Dante Alighieri, among many others poets. Henry VaughanâÇÖs poetry moves from dark to light, with the seeds of one being always present in the other. His nights, for all their darkness, also grow light. VaughanâÇÖs poetry is about big themes, cosmic themes, religious themes, with titles such as âÇÖThe WorldâÇÖ, âÇÖRegenerationâÇÖ, âÇÖPeaceâÇÖ, and âÇÖThe RetreatâÇÖ. Vaughan is not shy of big themes, as some poets are. He dives right in. His openings are particular powerful, striking up a majestic tone immediately: I saw Eternity the other night Like a great Ring of pure and endless light... (âÇÖThe WorldâÇÖ) Happy those early days! when I Shined in my Angel-infancy. (âÇÖThe RetreatâÇÖ) âÇÖMy soul, there is a country Far beyond the stars... (âÇÖPeaceâÇÖ) They are all gone into the world of light! And I alone sit lingâÇÖring here... ('They are all gone') Through that pure Virgin-shine,That sacred veil drawn oâÇÖer the glorious noon... (âÇÖThe NightâÇÖ) Revised and updated text, with new poems added for this edition. Illustrated. www.crmoon.com