by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861)
Sonnet XXI See original
Language: English
Say over again, and yet once over again, That thou dost love me. Though the word repeated Should seem “a cuckoo-song,” as thou dost treat it, Remember, never to the hill or plain, Valley and wood, without her cuckoo-strain Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed. Belovèd, I, amid the darkness greeted By a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubt’s pain Cry, “Speak once more—thou lovest!” Who can fear Too many stars, though each in heaven shall roll, Too many flowers, though each shall crown the year? Say thou does love me, love me, love me — toll The silver iterance! — only minding, Dear, To love me also in silence with thy soul.
Composition:
- Set to music by Lynn Steele (1951 - 2002), "Sonnet XXI" [ soprano and flute ], from Three Sonnets from the Portuguese, no. 1
Text Authorship:
- by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861), no title, appears in Poems, in Sonnets from the Portuguese, no. 21, first published 1847
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Christian Hawkey) , no title, written 2012, appears in Sonne from ort, no. 21
Researcher for this page: Lynn Steele
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 116