Invocation

Poem by Alphonse De Lamartine Collection Poetic MeditationsThemes DreamsPeriod 19th century

O thou who appeared to me in this desert of the world,
Dweller of heaven, passer-by in these places!
O thou who made shine in this deep night
A ray of love in my eyes;

To my astonished eyes show thyself entire,
Tell me what is thy name, thy country, thy destiny.
Was thy cradle on the earth?
Or art thou but a divine breath?

Wilt thou see again tomorrow the eternal light?
Or in this place of exile, of mourning, and of misery,
Must thou still pursue thy painful path?
Ah! whatever thy name, thy destiny, thy homeland,
Or daughter of the earth, or of the divine dwelling,
Ah! let me, all my life,
Offer thee my worship or my love.

If thou must, like us, finish thy career,
Be my support, my guide, and suffer that in all places,
Of thy adored steps I kiss the dust.
But if thou takest thy flight, and if, far from our eyes,
Sister of the angels, soon thou remountest near them,
After having loved me some days on earth,
Remember me in the heavens.

Alphonse de Lamartine

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