I never stoop'd so low, as they Which on an eye, cheek, lip, can prey; Seldom to them which soar no higher Than virtue, or the mind to admire. For sense and understanding may Know what gives fuel to their fire; My love, though silly, is more brave; For may I miss, whene'er I crave, If I know yet what I would have. If that be simply perfectest, Which can by no way be express'd But negatives, my love is so. To all, which all love, I say no. If any who deciphers best, What we know not -- ourselves -- can know, Let him teach me that nothing. This As yet my ease and comfort is, Though I speed not, I cannot miss.
Harmonium
Song Cycle by John Coolidge Adams (b. 1947)
1. Negative love  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by John Donne (1572 - 1631), "Negative love"
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Because I could not stop for Death  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English
Because I [could]1 not stop for Death -- He kindly stopped for me -- The carriage held but just ourselves -- and Immortality. We slowly drove -- he knew no haste, And I had put away My labour, and my leisure too For His Civility -- We passed the school, where children played, [ At wrestling in a ring]2 We passed the fields of gazing grain, We passed the setting sun. We paused before a house that seemed a swelling of the ground; The roof was scarcely visible, The cornice but a mound. Since then 'tis centuries; but each Feels shorter than the day I first surmised the horses' heads Were toward eternity.
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):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La voiture", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Walter A. Aue) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La carrozza", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Copland, Kagen: "would"
2 Copland: "Their lessons scarcely done"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. 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 by Emily Dickinson, first published 1891
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CHI Chinese (中文) (Mei Foong Ang) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Walter A. Aue) , "Sturmnacht! - Sturmnacht!", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Notti selvagge! Notti di tempesta!", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 note: sometimes "Winds". Hoiby, Leisner, Rusche, A. Thomas: "Winds"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 273