Love shakes my soul, like a mountain wind Falling upon the trees, When they are swayed and whitened and bowed As the great gusts will. I know why Daphne sped through the grove When the bright god came by, And shut herself in the laurel's heart For her silent doom. Love fills my heart, like my lover's breath Filling the hollow flute, Till the magic wood awakes and cries With remembrance and joy. Ah, timid Syrinx, do I not know Thy tremor of sweet fear? For a beautiful and imperious player Is the lord of life.
Two Sappho Songs
by Ivor (Bertie) Gurney (1890 - 1937)
1. Love shakes my soul  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Authorship:
- by Bliss Carman (1861 - 1929), no title, appears in Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics, no. 30
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. I shall be ever maiden  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
I shall be ever maiden, If thou be not my lover, And no man shall possess me Henceforth and forever. But thou alone shalt gather This fragile flower of beauty,-- To crush and keep the fragrance Like a holy incense. Thou only shalt remember This love of mine, or hallow The coming years with gladness, Calm and pride and passion.
Authorship:
- by Bliss Carman (1861 - 1929), no title, appears in Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics, no. 24
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 156