by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861)
Domesticity See original
Language: English
We have fires now, though the weather is lovely for November And I take long walks every day. We have fires now, and as soon as the lamp comes Robert sits in his armchair, and I curl myself up on the sofa. Or perhaps on a cushion on the hearth, And we say to one another "Oh how delightful this is! I do hope no one will come tonight." So we read and talk and Robert can't keep from Letting out the end of David Copperfield. And I scold him and won't hear a word more. Then the door opens, and enter Baby holding by Wilson's finger. "I can't think what he wants," Says Wilson, "but he would come." Upon which he walks straight up to me and puts up one foot. Pointing to it with his hand, pulling at my gown -- Perhaps you don't know what this means, but I do. He wants to go to bed... So I get up and go away with him and Wilson And Robert calls after us: "Come back soon, Ba." And I go back soon...
Composition:
- Set to music by Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019), "Domesticity", 1983 [ voice and piano or orchestra ], from Casa Guidi, no. 5
Text Authorship:
- by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861), from letters written by E. Browning in Florence to her sister Henrietta in England, between 1846 and 1859
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-24
Line count: 22
Word count: 185