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Uplifted is the stone by Novalis (1772 - 1801) Timeline English version by George MacDonald Original Language German Secular or Eclectic : Romantic Christian : Protestant 18th Century Uplifted is the stone -- And all mankind is risen -- We all remain thine own. And vanished is our prison. All troubles flee away Thy golden bowl before, For Earth and Life give way At the last and final supper. To the marriage Death doth call -- The virgins standeth back -- The lamps burn lustrous all -- Of oil there is no lack -- If the distance would only fill With the sound of you walking alone And that the stars would call Us all with human tongues and tone. Unto thee, O Mary A thousand hearts aspire. In this life of shadows Thee only they desire. In thee they hope for delivery With visionary expectation -- If only thou, O holy being Could clasp them to thy breast. With bitter torment burning, So many who are consumed At last from this world turning To thee have looked and fled, Helpful thou hast appeared To so many in pain. Now to them we come, To never go out again. At no grave can weep Any who love and pray. The gift of Love they keep, From none can it be taken away. To soothe and quiet his longing, Night comes and inspires -- Heaven's children round him thronging Watch and guard his heart. Have courage, for life is striding To endless life along; Stretched by inner fire, Our sense becomes transfigured. One day the stars above Shall flow in golden wine, We will enjoy it all, And as stars we will shine. The love is given freely, And Separation is no more. The whole life heaves and surges Like a sea without a shore. Just one night of bliss -- One everlasting poem -- And the sun we all share Is the face of God.   1800   -- from Hymns to the Night: Spiritual Songs, by Novalis / Translated by George MacDonald Amazon.com	Themes   Bliss   Death   Fire   Heart   Light Recommended Books Hymns to the Night, by Novalis Hymns to the Night: Spiritual Songs, by Novalis / Translated by George MacDonald News of the Universe: Poems of Twofold Consciousness, Edited by Robert Bly Novalis: Philosophical Writings, Translated by Margaret Mahony Stoljar The Novices of Sais, by Novalis / Translated by Ralph Manheim
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This poem by Novalis works as a powerful meditation on death and loss and restoration within the Christian tradition. Notice how in several sections of the poem Novalis draws in key elements from the Christain Gospels and claims them in a personal way, claims them for everyone, rather than viewing them as part of some remote historical past. For example, the first verse transforms the story of Christ's entombment and resurrection into a universal experience available to everyone:

Uplifted is the stone --
And all mankind is risen --

This gives us a mystical understanding linking the Easter resurrection with the Christian notion of the Day of Judgment as the point when every individual becomes an embodiment the great drama of the death which leads to rebirth into spiritual life. This is not the vision of a catastrophic historical event so favored by fundamentalist Christians today; it is the image of a universal awakening -- which, I would suggest, is much closer to the core of Christian truth.

I especially like the final two verses. Not only do they give us lovely, uplifting imagery, but there seems to be genuine mystical insight... the senses transfigured through an inner fire, a golden "wine" from above, losing the sense of separation, sacred bliss, witnessing God in a sun-like radiance:

Have courage, for life is striding
To endless life along;
Stretched by inner fire,
Our sense becomes transfigured.
One day the stars above
Shall flow in golden wine,
We will enjoy it all,
And as stars we will shine.

The love is given freely,
And Separation is no more.
The whole life heaves and surges
Like a sea without a shore.
Just one night of bliss --
One everlasting poem --
And the sun we all share
Is the face of God.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.