I wandered through a house of many rooms. It grew darker and darker, Until, at last, I could only find my way By passing my fingers along the wall. Suddenly my hand shot through an open window, And the thorn of a rose I could not see Pricked it so sharply That I cried aloud.
Dreams in War Time -- 7 songs for Mezzo and Piano
Song Cycle by Juliana Hall (b. 1958)
1. I wandered through a house of many rooms  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 1, first published 1919
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. I dug a grave under an oak‑tree  [sung text checked 1 time]
I dug a grave under an oak-tree. With infinite care, I stamped my spade Into the heavy grass. The sod sucked it, And I drew it out with effort, Watching the steel run liquid in the moonlight As it came clear. I stooped, and dug, and never turned, For behind me, On the dried leaves, My own face lay like a white pebble, Waiting.
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 2, first published 1919
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , "Cavé una tumba bajo un roble", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
3. I gambled with a silver money  [sung text checked 1 time]
I gambled with a silver money. The dried seed-vessels of “honesty” Were stacked in front of me. Dry, white years slipping through my fingers One by one. One by one, gathered by the Croupier. “Faites vos jeux, Messieurs.” I staked on the red, And the black won. Dry years, Dead years; But I had a system, I always staked on the red.
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 3, first published 1919
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. I painted the leaves of bushes red  [sung text checked 1 time]
I painted the leaves of bushes red And shouted: “Fire! Fire!” But the neighbors only laughed. “We cannot warm our hands at them,” they said. Then they cut down my bushes, And made a bonfire, And danced about it. But I covered my face and wept, For ashes are not beautiful Even in the dawn.
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 4, first published 1919
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. I followed a procession of singing girls  [sung text checked 1 time]
I followed a procession of singing girls Who danced to the glitter of tambourines. Where the street turned at a lighted corner, I caught the purple dress of one of the dancers, But, as I grasped it, it tore, And the purple dye ran from it Like blood Upon the ground.
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 5, first published 1919
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]6. I wished to post a letter  [sung text checked 1 time]
I wished to post a letter, But although I paid much, Still the letter was overweight. “What is in this package?” said the clerk, “It is very heavy.” “Yes,” I said, “And yet it is only a dried fruit.”
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 6, first published 1919
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]7. I had made a kite  [sung text checked 1 time]
I had made a kite, On it I had pasted golden stars And white torches, And the tail was spotted scarlet like a tiger-lily, And very long. I flew my kite, And my soul was contented Watching it flash against the concave of the sky. My friends pointed at the clouds; They begged me to take in my kite. But I was happy Seeing the mirror shock of it Against the black clouds. Then the lightning came And struck the kite. It puffed—blazed—fell. But still I walked on, In the drowning rain, Slowly winding up the string.
Authorship:
- by Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), no title, appears in Pictures of the Floating World, in Dreams in War Time, no. 7, first published 1919
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]