by Richard Watson Gilder (1844 - 1909)
Because the rose
Language: English
Because the rose must fade, Shall I not love the rose? Because the summer shade Passes when winter blows, Shall I not rest me there In the cool air? Because the sunset sky Makes music in my soul, Only to fail and die; Shall I not take the whole Of beauty that it gives While yet it lives? Because the sweet of youth Doth vanish all too soon, Shall I forget, forsooth, To learn its lingering tune; My joy to memorise In those young eyes? It, like the summer flower That blooms---a fragrant death, Keen music hath no power To live beyond its breath, Then of this flood of song Let me drink long! Ah, yes, because the rose Fades like the sunset skies; Because rude winter blows All bare, and music dies--- Therefore, now is to me Eternity!
C. Brumby sets stanzas 1-2, 5
Authorship:
- by Richard Watson Gilder (1844 - 1909), "Because the Rose" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Colin Brumby (b. 1933), "Because the rose", published 1999, stanzas 1-2, 5. [SA chorus and piano] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Colin Brumby
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-17
Line count: 30
Word count: 139