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by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)

A complaint
Language: English 
There is a change -- and I am poor;
Your love hath been, nor long ago,
A fountain at my fond heart's door,
Whose only business was to flow;
And flow it did; not taking heed
Of its own bounty, or my need.

What happy moments did I count!
Blest was I then all bliss above!
Now, for that consecrated fount
Of murmuring, sparkling, living love,
What have I? Shall I dare to tell?
A comfortless and hidden well.

A well of love -- it may be deep -- 
I trust it is, -- and never dry:
What matter? If the waters sleep
In silence and obscurity.
 -- Such change, and at the very door
Of my fond heart, hath made me poor.

Text Authorship:

  • by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850), "A complaint" [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 Robert Owens (1925 - 2017), "A complaint", op. 21 no. 3 [baritone and piano], from 4 Motivations for Baritone and Piano, no. 3. [ sung text not verified ]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-10-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 118

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