LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
Lead
Kindly Light is a
poem written by Cardinal John Henry Newman. He was an English poet, theologian
and academic. Born on February 21, 1801. In the city of London, England , he died in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, on
August 11, 1890.
His poem mentioned above is a
spiritual lyric. It is loved and appreciated by every reader who knows human
pride which ultimately ends in humility.
Initially, man regards himself
self-reliant in the difficult journey of life. His pride enables him to lead a
life of enjoyments with no thought of God. But not long after he faces
difficulties. Darkness envelopes his path and he feels the need of step by step
light, which means divine help and
guidance. His pride vanishes giving enough room to humility. He then bursts
into a hymn addressed to God and prays : Lead Kindly Light. The word ‘Light’ symbolizes
God who is kind to humans when they surrender themselves before Him.
The
poet believes that the end of earthly life and suffering will result in meeting
his loved ones who died in the past and are presently in heaven with peaceful
angelic faces.
The
full text of the poem which was written in 1833 was the result of an
unfortunate event that caused fever to the poet, making him not only physically
sick but also emotionally distressed.
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
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 prayed that
Thou shouldst 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 blessed 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.
*******
G. R. Kanwal
8 September 2026
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