Stars of the Desert

Here, at the doorway of my tent, I linger 
To watch in yours the shadow and the light,
The hungry soul within me burning, burning,
As the stars burn throughout the Eastern night.

Sleep on, I sit and watch your tent in silence, 
White as a sail upon this sandy sea, 
And know the Desert's self is not more boundless
Than is the distance 'twixt yourself and me.

Sleep on, the Desert sleeps around you, quiet, 
Watched by the restless, golden stars above, 
Ay, let us sleep; you to your careless waking, 
I, with my dreams of unrequited love.

Submitted by Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

Authorship

• by Adela Florence Nicolson, née Cory (1865 - 1904), as Laurence Hope, London; John Lane ; New York : William Heinemann, first published 1903 [ author's text not yet checked 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 Amy Woodforde-Finden, née Ward (1860 - 1919), "Stars of the Desert", published 1911 [voice and piano], from Stars of the Desert : Four more Indian Love Lyrics, no. 1, Boosey and Co. [ sung text checked 1 time]

Text added to the website: 2019-01-10.
Last modified: 2019-01-10 12:31:41
Line count: 12
Word count: 99

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