John Henry Newman’s Lead kindly light is a reflective poem that easily switches the reader’s thoughts from physical to the divine. This poem is written in the form of a request from the poet to God.
John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest. Later he became a catholic priest and a cardinal. He is considered one of the leading theologians of the nineteenth century.
Newman is considered a liberal theologian who always admitted science and technology. According to him, ” religion and science cannot come into conflict unless they are misrepresented or misunderstood.”
Pope Francis on 13 October 2019 declared Newman a Saint. According to him, Conscience is the voice of God. Some critics opine on their writing of Newman as a perfect example of simplicity. The simplicity of thoughts and words is evident in this poem too.
Tagore’s This is my prayer to thee, my lord is a request by Tagore to God.
In the first stanza, the poet unveils his intimacy with God. He speaks to God like his best friend. He pleads with God to show him the light because he feels like he is surrounded by darkness.
He maintains his request politely by mentioning that he doesn’t need the light for far distances but only to make one step at a time.
In the next stanza, Newman acts like a kid who admits all the mischiefs to their parents at the end of the day. He indicates the closeness he enjoys with his God. This could be also indicated as the representation of God’s love depicted in the new testament of the Bible. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God (1 John 3:1).”
Poet also confesses his past days when he used to make his own decisions but admits that he needs God’s guidance to find the right steps. Newman pleads to God not to remember his past as he was driven by his pride. He acknowledges God’s providence which he enjoyed throughout his life.
By the end of the poem, Poet feels that darkness paved the way for the light. He feels like he is surrounded by the smiling face of angels. He admits his enthusiasm for God by writing ” I have loved long since, and lost a while.”
Check out these new books https://www.amazon.ca/books-used-books-textbooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=916520
Read the full poem below.
Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home —
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene, — one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that Thou
Should’st lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
