Tenebris Interlucentem

Tenebris Interlucentem

Original Text
Collected Poems, ed. J. C. Squire (New York: Doubleday, Page, 1916): 36. PR 6011 L4A17 Robarts Library
2Sang on a blackened bough in Hell,
3Till all the ghosts remembered well
4The trees, the wind, the golden day.
5At last they knew that they had died
6When they heard music in that land,
7And some one there stole forth a hand
8To draw a brother to his side.

Notes

1] Fletcher's first (published) version read much differently:
Once a poor songbird that had lost her way
Sang down in Hell upon a blackened bough,
Till all the lazy ghosts remembered how
The forest trees stood up against the day.

Then suddenly they knew that they had died,
Hearing this music mock their shadow-land:
And some one there stole forth a timid hand
To draw a phantom brother to his side.

(Badge of Fire [London: Elkin Mathews, 1907]: 48). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1911
Publication Notes
Forty-two Poems (London: J. M. Dent, 1911): 12. PR 6011 L4F6 Robarts Library
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1999.
Rhyme