“Whose are the little beds,” I asked, “Which in the valleys lie?” Some shook their heads, and others smiled, And no one made reply. “Perhaps they did not hear,” I said; “I will inquire again. Whose are the beds, the tiny beds So thick upon the plain?” “’T is daisy in the shortest; A little farther on, Nearest the door to wake the first, Little leontodon. “’T is iris, sir, and aster, Anemone and bell, Batschia in the blanket red, And chubby daffodil.” Meanwhile at many cradles Her busy foot she plied, Humming the quaintest lullaby That ever rocked a child. “Hush! Epigea wakens! The crocus stirs her lids, Rhodora’s cheek is crimson, — She’s dreaming of the woods.” Then, turning from them, reverent, “Their bed-time ’t is,” she said; “The bumble-bees will wake them When April woods are red.”
Upon this Summer's Day -- 8 songs for Soprano and Piano
Song Cycle by Juliana Hall (b. 1958)
1. Whose are the little beds, I asked  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
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Confirmed with Dickinson, Emily. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Boston: Little, Brown, 1924; Bartleby.com, 2000. http://www.bartleby.com/113/2010.html
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. Bloom ‑‑ is Result ‑‑ to meet a Flower  [sung text not yet checked]
Bloom — is Result — to meet a Flower And casually glance Would scarcely cause one to suspect The minor Circumstance Assisting in the Bright Affair So intricately done Then offered as a Butterfly To the Meridian -- To pack the Bud -- oppose the Worm -- Obtain its right of Dew -- Adjust the Heat -- elude the Wind -- Escape the prowling Bee Great Nature not to disappoint Awaiting Her that Day -- To be a Flower, is profound Responsibility --
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. I tend my flowers for thee ‑  [sung text not yet checked]
I tend my flowers for thee -- Bright Absentee! My Fuchsia's Coral Seams Rip -- while the Sower -- dreams -- Geraniums -- tint -- and spot -- Low Daisies -- dot -- My Cactus -- splits her Beard To show her throat -- Carnations -- tip their spice -- And Bees -- pick up -- A Hyacinth -- I hid -- Puts out a Ruffled Head -- And odors fall From flasks -- so small -- You marvel how they held -- Globe Roses -- break their satin glake -- Upon my Garden floor -- Yet -- thou -- not there -- I had as lief they bore No Crimson -- more -- Thy flower -- be gay -- Her Lord -- away! It ill becometh me -- I'll dwell in Calyx -- Gray -- How modestly -- alway -- Thy Daisy -- Draped for thee!
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. Perhaps you'd like to buy a flower  [sung text not yet checked]
Perhaps you'd like to buy a flower, But I could never sell -- If you would like to borrow, Until the Daffodil Unties her yellow Bonnet Beneath the village door, Until the Bees, from Clover rows Their Hock, and Sherry, draw, Why, I will lend until just then, But not an hour more!
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1890
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
5. The daisy follows soft the sun  [sung text not yet checked]
The daisy follows soft the sun, And when his golden walk is done, Sits shyly at his feet. He, waking, finds the flower near. "Wherefore, marauder, art thou here? Because, sir, love is sweet!" We are the flower, Thou the sun! Forgive us, if as days decline, We nearer steal to Thee, - Enamoured of the parting west, The peace, the flight, the amethyst, Night's possibility!
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1890
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]6. God made a little gentian  [sung text not yet checked]
God made a little gentian; It tired to be a rose And failed, and all the summer laughed. But just before the snows There came a purple creature That ravished all the hill; And summer hid her forehead, And mockery was still. The frosts were her condition; The Tyrian would not come Until the North evoked it. “Creator! shall I bloom?”
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
Go to the single-text view
Confirmed with Dickinson, Emily. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Boston: Little, Brown, 1924; Bartleby.com, 2000. http://www.bartleby.com/113/2048.html
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
7. Apparently with no surprise  [sung text not yet checked]
Apparently with no surprise To any happy flower, The frost beheads it at its play In accidental power. The blond assassin passes on, The sun proceeds unmoved To measure off another day For an approving God.
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1890
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Walter A. Aue) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Senza apparente sorpresa", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
8. When roses cease to bloom, sir  [sung text not yet checked]
When roses cease to bloom, [dear]1, And violets are done, When bumble-bees in solemn flight Have passed beyond the sun, The hand that passed to gather Upon this summer's day Will idle lie, in Auburn, -- Then take my flower, pray!
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, written 1858, appears in Poems by Emily Dickinson, first published 1896
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Peros follows another version of this poem: "sir"
Note for stanza 2, line 3: "Auburn" refers to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]