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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Heart not so heavy as mine
 (Sung text for setting by E. Carter)
 See original
Language: English 
Heart not so heavy as mine,
Wending late home --
As it passed my window 
Whistled itself a tune -- 

A careless snatch -- a ballad --
A Ditty of the street -- 
Yet to my irritated ear
An anodyne so sweet --

It was as if a Bobolink,
Sauntering this way,
Carolled and mused, and carolled --
Then bubbled slowly away.

It was as if a chirping brook
Upon a toilsome way,
Set bleeding feet to minuets
Without the knowing why --

Heart not so heavy, 
Tomorrow -- night will come again --
Weary, perhaps, and sore --
Ah bugle by my window,
I pray you stroll once more!

Composition:

    Set to music by Elliott Cook Carter, Jr. (1908 - 2012), "Heart not so heavy as mine", published 1939 [ SATB chorus a cappella ]

Text Authorship:

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

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-10-12
Line count: 20
Word count: 106

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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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