by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)

Language: English 
O lift your little pinkie, and touch the winter sky.
Love’s all over the mountains 
where the beautiful go to die.

If Time were the wicked sheriff in a horse opera,
I’d pay for riding lessons 
and take his gun away. O lift . . .

If I were a Valentino, and Fortune were abroad,
I’d hypnotise that iceberg 
till she kissed me of her own accord.  

If I’d stacked up the velvet 
and my crooked rib were dead,
I’d be breeding white canaries 
and eating crackers in bed.  

But my cuffs are soiled and fraying. 
The kitchen clock is slow,
and over the Blue Waters 
the grass grew long ago.

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First published in Musical Times, October 1952

Composition:

    Set to music by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Shepherd's carol", published 1962 [ SATB soli and SATB chorus a cappella ]

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2014-06-23
Line count: 17
Word count: 111