The hills step off into whiteness. People or stars Regard me sadly, I disappoint them. The train leaves a line of breath. O slow Horse the colour of rust, Hooves, dolorous bells ---- All morning the Morning has been blackening, A flower left out. My bones hold a stillness, the far Fields melt my heart. They threaten To let me through to a heaven Starless and fatherless, a dark water.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Text Authorship:
- by Sylvia Plath (1932 - 1963), "Sheep in Fog", appears in Ariel, first published 1965 [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 Frank Ahrold (b. 1931), "Sheep in Fog" [ mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, bassoon, violoncello, vibraphone, percussion ], from Three Poems of Sylvia Plath [sung text not yet checked]
- by Maarten Altena (b. 1943), "Sheep in fog", from Three Songs, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Mitchell (b. 1941), "Sheep in Fog", op. 104 no. 3 (2000), from Four Poems by Sylvia Plath, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Victoria Brago
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 69