by Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946)
Why am I if I am uncertain reasons may...
Language: English
Why am I if I am uncertain reasons may inclose.
Remain remain propose repose chose.
I call carelessly that the door is open
Which if they may refuse to open
No one can rush to close.
Let them be mine therefor.
Everybody knows that I chose.
Therefor if therefore before I close.
I will therefore offer therefore I offer this.
Which if I refuse to miss may be miss is mine.
I will be well welcome when I come.
Because I am coming.
Certainly I come having come.
These stanzas are done.
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Text Authorship:
- by Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946), "Stanza LXXXIII", appears in Stanzas in Meditation and Other Poems [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 Richard Hundley (1930 - 2018), "Well Welcome", published 1993 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gunther Schuller (1925 - 2015), "Meditation", 1960 [ high voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-01-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 92