by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844 - 1930)
I will not let thee go
Language: English
I will not let thee go. Ends all our month-long love in this? Can it be summ'd up so, Quit in a single kiss? I will not let thee go. I will not let thee go. If thy words' breath could scare thy deeds, As the soft south can blow And toss the feather'd seeds, Then might I let thee go. I will not let thee go. Had not the great sun seen, I might; Or were he reckon'd slow To bring the false to light, Then might I let thee go. I will not let thee go. The stars that crowd the summer skies Have watch'd us so below With all their million eyes, I dare not let thee go. I will not let thee go. Have we not chid the changeful moon, Now rising late, and now Because she set too soon, And shall I let thee go? I will not let thee go. Have not the young flowers been content, Pluck'd ere their buds could blow, To seal our sacrament? I cannot let thee go. I will not let thee go. I hold thee by too many bands: Thou sayest farewell, and, lo! I have thee by the hands, And will not let thee go.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844 - 1930), no title, appears in Poems, first published 1873 [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 Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), "I will not let thee go", op. 15 (Six Songs) no. 6 (1903) [ baritone and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robin Humphrey Milford (1903 - 1959), "I will not let thee go", published 1939 [ bass and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-01-29
Line count: 35
Word count: 209