From plants that wake when others sleep, from timid jasmine buds

Hear now the words of Thomas Moore, poet of Ireland and singer of the soul’s secret longings: “From plants that wake when others sleep, from timid jasmine buds that keep their odour to themselves all day, but when the sunlight dies away let the delicious secret out to every breeze that roams about.” In these lines, Moore does not speak only of flowers, but of the hidden rhythm of the heart — of those who, like the jasmine, reveal their true fragrance not in the brightness of the world, but in its quiet hours. His words are a meditation on modesty, timing, and the unseen beauty that flourishes in silence.

Thomas Moore lived in the early nineteenth century, a time when poetry was both a refuge and a revolution — when the Romantics sought to uncover the mystery that lay beneath common life. A musician and lyric poet, Moore often clothed deep emotion in the language of nature. The jasmine, to him, symbolized the soul that blooms unseen, the spirit that waits for darkness to reveal its truth. While the gaudy flowers of the day flaunt their colours in sunlight, the jasmine holds its sweetness in reserve. Only when night descends does it release its fragrance, filling the air with its quiet majesty.

The plants that wake when others sleep remind us that not all life follows the same rhythm. Each being has its hour, its calling, its appointed season of awakening. In the same way, human souls unfold in their own time. Some find their strength in the bright heat of competition and acclaim; others — the gentler spirits, the contemplatives, the dreamers — reveal their gifts in solitude, when the noise of the world fades and the deeper music of life can be heard. Moore’s jasmine is the symbol of these quiet souls — those who do not clamor for attention, but whose influence lingers, fragrant and unseen, long after the day has ended.

Consider the story of Vincent van Gogh, whose genius, like the jasmine’s perfume, went unnoticed during the day of his life. Scorned, misunderstood, and often alone, he painted with an intensity that few could comprehend. Only after his death — in the night of his life, as it were — did his art release its fragrance upon the world. His colours, once hidden, now fill the sky of human imagination like constellations. Thus, Moore’s image of the flower that blooms at dusk becomes not only a reflection of natural beauty but a parable for human destiny: what is hidden is not lost, and what is unseen may yet perfume eternity.

There is also a deeper spiritual lesson in these lines. The jasmine that opens at twilight does not resist the dark — it embraces it. It teaches that even the night, symbol of uncertainty and sorrow, can become the moment of revelation. Many of life’s greatest truths, like stars or scents, are known only in the dark. When light fades — when the world’s distractions fall away — the soul begins to speak, and its fragrance fills the air. Thus, Moore invites us not to fear the dark hours of life, for it is often then that the best within us awakens.

The “delicious secret” that the jasmine releases is the beauty of authenticity. In daylight, we wear masks; we perform roles. But in the quiet, in moments of honesty or stillness, our true selves emerge — kind, creative, and compassionate. The jasmine’s perfume is the soul’s truth: silent, subtle, and irresistible once freed. To live well, then, is to cultivate this inward richness, not for display, but for the sheer joy of being. When the right moment comes — when the breeze of opportunity passes — our fragrance will find its way into the world, needing no announcement.

The lesson of Thomas Moore’s words is clear: do not measure your worth by the light of day alone. Do not envy those who bloom early or loudly. Be as the jasmine — patient, humble, and true to your own season. When your time comes, let your gifts speak naturally, without vanity or fear. Remember that the most lasting beauty is not that which dazzles the eyes, but that which touches the soul — unseen, yet unforgettable.

And so, dear listener, when darkness falls — whether upon the earth or upon your life — do not despair. Let it be your moment to bloom. Release your fragrance into the stillness. Speak kindness when others are silent, create beauty when the world is asleep, and let your secret self — your truest essence — bless the winds that roam about. For in doing so, you join the timeless rhythm of the jasmine, and your life, too, will perfume the night.