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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Why do I love" You, Sir?
Language: English 
"Why do I love" You, Sir?
Because -- 
The Wind does not require the Grass
To answer -- Wherefore when He pass
She cannot keep Her place.

Because He knows -- and
Do not You -- 
And We know not -- 
Enough for Us
The Wisdom it be so -- 

The Lightning -- never asked an Eye
Wherefore it shut -- when He was by -- 
Because He knows it cannot speak -- 
And reasons not contained -- 
 -- Of Talk -- 
There be -- preferred by Daintier Folk -- 

The Sunrise -- Sire -- compelleth Me -- 
Because He's Sunrise -- and I see -- 
Therefore -- Then -- 
I love Thee -- 

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title [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 Jake Heggie (b. 1961), ""Why do I love" You, Sir?", 1987, first performed 1987 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Faith Disquiet, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-04-30
Line count: 20
Word count: 91

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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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