by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900)
When this, our rose, is faded
Language: English
When this, our rose, is faded, And these, our days, are done, In lands profoundly shaded From tempest and from sun; Ah, once more come together, Shall we forgive the past, And safe from worldly weather Possess our souls at last? Or in our place of shadows Shall still we stretch an hand To green, remembered meadows, Of that old pleasant land? And vainly there foregathered, Shall we regret the sun? The rose of love, ungathered? The bay, we have not won? Ah, child! the world’s dark marges May lead to Nevermore, The stately funeral barges Sail for an unknown shore, And love we vow to-morrow, And pride we serve to-day: What if they both should borrow Sad hues of yesterday? Our pride! Ah, should we miss it, Or will it serve at last? Our anger, if we kiss it, Is like a sorrow past. While roses deck the garden, While yet the sun is high, Doff sorry pride for pardon, Or ever love go by.
Text Authorship:
- by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900) [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 Grigory Smirnov (b. 1985), "When this, our rose, is faded", subtitle: "Amantium Irae", 2013, published 2013, first performed 2014 [ tenor and piano ], from Dowson Songs, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2021-11-25
Line count: 32
Word count: 166