A Letter to the World

Song Cycle by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist

1. This is my letter to the world  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
This is my letter to the world, 
That never wrote to me, - 
The simple news that nature told, 
With tender magesty. 

Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!

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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

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Blazing in gold  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Blazing in gold and quenching in Purple,
Leaping like Leopards to the Sky
Then at the feet of the old Horizon
Laying her spotted Face to die;
Stooping as low as the [Otter's]1 Window,
Touching the Roof and tinting the Barn,
Kissing her Bonnet to the Meadow, --
And the Juggler of Day is gone.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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1 Farwell: "kitchen"; in another version of Dickinson: "oriel"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Why do they  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Why -- do they shut me out of Heaven?
Did I sing -- too loud?
But -- I can sing a little minor,
Timid as a bird.

Wouldn't the angels try me -- 
just -- once -- more --
Just -- see -- if I troubled them --
But don't -- shut the door!

Oh if I -- were the Gentlemen 
in the White [Robe]1
and they -- were the little Hand -- that knocked --
Could -- I -- forbid?

Why do they shut me out of Heaven?
Did I sing too loud?

Text Authorship:

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Per què m’han tancat les portes del cel?", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Pourquoi m'ont-ils fermé la porte du ciel", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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1 Copland: "Robes"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 173