by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950)
I said, seeing how the winter gale...
Language: English
I said, seeing how the winter gale increased, Even as waxed within us and grew strong The ancient tempest of desire, “At least, It is the season when the nights are long. Well flown, well shattered from the summer hedge The early sparrow and the opening flowers!— Late climbs the sun above the southerly edge These days, and sweet to love those added hours.” Alas, already does the dark recede, And visible are the trees against the snow. Oh, monstrous parting, oh, perfidious deed, How shall I leave your side, how shall I go? … Unnatural night, the shortest of the year, Farewell! 'Tis dawn. The longest day is here.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950), no title, appears in Fatal Interview, first published 1931 [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 Ellis Bonoff Kohs (b. 1916), "Farewell" [ low voice and piano ], from Fatal Interview [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2021-10-10
Line count: 14
Word count: 110