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by Thomas Hood (1799 - 1845)

To an absentee
Language: English 
O'er hill, and dale, and distant sea,
Through all the miles that stretch between,
My thought must fly to rest on thee,
And would, though worlds should intervene.

Nay, thou art now so dear, methinks
The further we are forced apart,
Affection's firm elastic links
But bind the closer round the heart.

For now we sever each from each,
I learn what I have lost in thee;
Alas! that nothing less could teach
How great indeed my love should be!

Farewell! I did not know thy worth:
But thou art gone, and now 'tis prized:
So angels walked unknown on earth,
But when they flew were recognized!

First published in London Magazine, 1822, with the author given as "Incog."

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Hood (1799 - 1845), "To an absentee" [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 John David Davis (1867 - 1942), "To an absentee", published 1910. [voice and piano] [
     text not verified 
    ]
  • by M. Stydolf, Mr. , "To an absentee", published c1886 [voice and piano], from Five Songs, from the Works of the English Poets, &c. [
     text not verified 
    ]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-01-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 107

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