Gods

"Gods" is the fifth and final song in Ned Rorem's song cycle Five Poems of Walt Whitman. This poem has also been set by Marc Blitzstein: "Gods".

Date: 1970Composer: Ned RoremText: Walt WhitmanSong Collection: Five Poems of Walt Whitman

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    Gods
    by Walt Whitman

    Lover divine and perfect Comrade,
    Waiting content, invisible yet, but certain,
    Be thou my God.

    Thou, thou, the Ideal Man,
    Fair, able, beautiful, content, and loving,
    Complete in body and dilate in spirit,
    Be thou my God.

    O Death, (for Life has served its turn,)
    Opener and usher to the heavenly mansion,
    Be thou my God.

    Aught, aught of mightiest, best I see, conceive, or know,
    (To break the stagnant tie – thee, thee to free, o soul,)
    Be thou my God.

    All great ideas, the races’ aspirations,
    All heroisms, deeds of rapt enthusiasts,
    Be ye my Gods.

    Or Time and Space,
    Or shape of Earth divine and wondrous,
    Or some fair shape I viewing, worship,
    Or lustrous orb of sun or star by night,
    Be ye my Gods.

    Related Information

    Sheet Music

    Five Poems of Walt Whitman

    Composer(s): Ned Rorem

    Song(s): 1. Sometimes With One I Love
    2. Look Down, Fair Moon
    3. Gliding O'er All
    4. Reconciliation
    5. Gods

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