by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861)
The Death of Mr. Barrett
Language: English
It is true that first words must be said -- But of the past I cannot speak. I believe Hope had died in me long ago Of reconciliation in this world... Occupation is the only thing to keep one On one's feet a little, that I know well. Only it is hard sometimes to force oneself Into occupation...there's -- the hardness. I take up books -- but my heart goes walking up and down Constantly through that house on Wimpole Street. Till it is tired, tired, tired. The truth is, I am made of paper, and it tears me.
Authorship:
- by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861), from letters written by E. Browning in Florence to her sister Henrietta in England, between 1846 and 1859 [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 Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019), "The Death of Mr. Barrett", 1983 [voice and piano or orchestra], from Casa Guidi, no. 4. [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 96