To lie flat on the back with the knees flexed and sunshine on the soft receptive belly, or face down, the insolent spine relaxed, no more compelled to cower or to bully, is good; and good to see them passing by below on the white sidewalk in the heat, the dog, the lady with parcels, and the boy: there is the casual life outside the heart. Yes, we are out of sight and earshot here. Are you aware what weapon you are loading, to what that teasing talk is quietly leading? Our pulses count but do not judge the hour. Who are you with, from whom you turn away, At whom you dare not look? Do you know why?
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Authorship:
- by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), appears in Look, Stranger!, first published 1936 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "To lie flat on the back", first performed 1947 [ high voice and piano ], from Fish in the unruffled lakes : Six Auden Settings for High Voice and Piano, no. 1, note: collected into one publication in 1997 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 119