A door just opened on a street— I, lost, was passing by— An instant's width of warmth disclosed, And wealth, and company. The door as sudden shut, and I, I, lost, was passing by,— Lost doubly, but by contrast most, Enlightening misery.
As Sudden Shut
Song Cycle by Anna Clyne (b. 1980)
1. As sudden shut
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), "Contrast", written 1864, appears in Poems: Third Series, in 1. Life, no. 28
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Note: later editions had the following changes:
Stanza 2, line 1, word 4: "instant" instead of "sudden"
Stanza 2, line 4, word 1: "Informing" instead of "Enlightening"
2. The Lost Thought Sung Text
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes [external link]Note: this is a multi-text setting
I felt a cleaving in my mind As if my brain had split; I tried to match it, seam by seam, But could not make them fit. The thought behind I strove to join Unto the thought before, But sequence ravelled out of reach Like balls upon a floor.
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), "The Lost Thought", appears in Poems: Third Series, in 1. Life, no. 23, appears in Poems: Third Series, in 1. Life, no. 23, first published 1896
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Walter A. Aue) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
I felt a Cleaving in my Mind — As if my Brain had split — I tried to match it — Seam by Seam — But could not make it fit. The thought behind, I strove to join Unto the thought before — But Sequence ravelled out of Sound Like Balls — upon a Floor.
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, revised version
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Postponeless Creature [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
It's coming -- the postponeless Creature -- It gains the Block -- and now -- it gains the Door -- Chooses its latch, from all the other fastenings -- Enters -- with a "You know Me -- Sir"? Simple Salute -- and certain Recognition -- Bold -- were it Enemy -- Brief -- were it friend -- Dresses each House in Crape, and Icicle -- And carries one -- out of it -- to God --
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Further poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1929
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Total word count: 204