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A Gleam of Sunshine Lyrics by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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This is the place. Stand still, my steed,
        Let me review the scene,
And summon from the shadowy Past
        The forms that once have been.
The Past and Present here unite
        Beneath Time's flowing tide,
Like footprints hidden by a brook,
        But seen on either side.
Here runs the highway to the town;
        There the green lane descends,
Through which I walked to church with thee,
        O gentlest of my friends!
The shadow of the linden-trees
        Lay moving on the grass;
Between them and the moving boughs,
        A shadow, thou didst pass.
Thy dress was like the lilies,
        And thy heart as pure as they:
One of God's holy messengers
        Did walk with me that day.
I saw the branches of the trees
        Bend down thy touch to meet,
The clover-blossoms in the grass
        Rise up to kiss thy feet,
"Sleep, sleep to-day, tormenting cares,
        Of earth and folly born!"
Solemnly sang the village choir
        On that sweet Sabbath morn.
Through the closed blinds the golden sun
        Poured in a dusty beam,
Like the celestial ladder seen
        By Jacob in his dream.
And ever and anon, the wind,
        Sweet-scented with the hay,
Turned o'er the hymn-book's fluttering leaves
        That on the window lay.
Long was the good man's sermon,
        Yet it seemed not so to me;
For he spake of Ruth the beautiful,
        And still I thought of thee.
Long was the prayer he uttered,
        Yet it seemed not so to me;
For in my heart I prayed with him,
        And still I thought of thee.
But now, alas! the place seems changed;
        Thou art no longer here:
Part of the sunshine of the scene
        With thee did disappear.
Though thoughts, deep-rooted in my heart,
Like pine-trees dark and high,
Subdue the light of noon, and breathe
        A low and ceaseless sigh;
This memory brightens o'er the past,
        As when the sun, concealed
Behind some cloud that near us hangs
        Shines on a distant field.
Credits
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

About “A Gleam of Sunshine” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read the complete lyrics to "A Gleam of Sunshine" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from the album "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"A Gleam of Sunshine" is performed by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. from the album "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Gleam of Sunshine", explore more songs by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"A Gleam of Sunshine" is credited to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Gleam of Sunshine" appears on "The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow".

Visit the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow artist page at /artist/henry-wadsworth-longfellow for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.