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The Wizard of Altoona

Opera by Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991)

?. No rose need ask
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
ALBERTO:
 Norma, this morning, along the roadside through the valley,
 violets bloomed and bird songs filled the air.
 Then I saw lilacs on your hill. I saw the roses in your garden there.
 If you look out your window, Norma, you will find your answer everywhere:
 No rose need ask if sun is sun,
 No bird need ask if spring is spring.
 Your heart need only ask your heart if love is love.
 No sunrise asks if night is done,
 No garden asks if June is June.
 No lovers ever ask the moon
 if its silvery beams
 are really real or golden dreams.
 As moon knows moonrise,
 as sun knows sunrise,
 That's how your heart knows love.
 No lilacs ask if dew is dew,
 nor morning star if sky is sky.
 You need only ask your heart
 if that feeling in your heart
 is like the sunrise,
 like the moonrise,
 just ask your heart when love is love.

NORMA:
 I dare not ask if love is love,
 I dare not ask if dreams come true,
 my heart can only ask my heart, "What shall I do?"

ALBERTO:
 I dare not hope that you'll love me.

NORMA:
 I dare not tell you I love you.

BOTH:
 If there's a pathway to the stars, what can lovers do
 to find that pathway to pursue?

NORMA:
 I'll know no moonrise

ALBERTO:
 I'll know no sunrise

BOTH:
 Until my heart knows love.

NORMA:
 I dare not dream a dream of love,

ALBERTO:
 I dare not ask if dreams come true.

BOTH:
 I can only ask my heart
 since the feeling in my heart is like the sunrise,
 like the moonrise,
 I ask my heart if love is you.

Text Authorship:

  • by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), written 1951

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this page: Leonard Lehrman
Total word count: 284
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