by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Delight is as the flight (poem #257)
 (Sung text for setting by A. Thomas)
 Matches original text
Language: English 
Our translations:  FRE
Delight is as the flight -
Or in the Ratio of it,
As the Schools would say -
The Rainbow's way -
A Skein
Flung colored, after Rain,
Would suit as bright,
Except that flight
Were Aliment -

"If it would last"
I asked the East,
When that Bent Stripe
Struck up my childish
Firmament -
And I, for glee,
Took Rainbows, as the common way,
And empty Skies
The Eccentricity -

And so with Lives -
And so with Butterflies -
Seen magic -- through the fright
That they will cheat the sight -
And Dower latitudes far on -
Some sudden morn -
Our portion - in the fashion -
Done --

Composition:

    Set to music by Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964), "Delight is as the flight (poem #257)", 2003, first performed 2005 [ soprano and small ensemble consisting of flute, oboe, violin, cello, piano and percussionist (playing only vibraphone (motor off), 2 crotales (Eb and D), and 2 bongos) ], from Bubble: Rainbow (spirit level), no. 2

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-10-15
Line count: 26
Word count: 100