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!

Text Authorship:

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1890

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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.

Text Authorship:

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title

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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:

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Further poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1929

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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]

5. I saw no Way [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English

I saw no Way — The Heavens were stitched —
I felt the Columns close —
The Earth reversed her Hemispheres —
I touched the Universe —

And back it slid — and I alone —
A Speck upon a Ball —
Went out upon Circumference —
Beyond the Dip of Bell —

Text Authorship:

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

5. Wild Nights [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English

Wild nights! -- Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile -- the [Wind]¹ --
To a heart in port, --
Done with the Compass, --
Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden --
Ah! the Sea!
Might I but moor -- Tonight --
In thee!

Text Authorship:

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems: Second Series, first published 1891

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

View text without footnotes
¹ note: sometimes "Winds". Harmer, Hoiby, Leisner, Rusche, A. Thomas: "Winds"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

Total word count: 270