by William Morris (1834 - 1896)
In Prison
Language: English
Wearily, drearily, Half the day long, Flap the great banners High over the stone; Strangely and eerily Sounds the wind's song, Bending the banner-poles. While, all alone, Watching the loophole's spark, Lie I, with life all dark, Feet tether'd, hands fetter'd Fast to the stone, The grim walls, square-letter'd With prison'd men's groan. Still strain the banner-poles Through the wind's song, Westward the banner rolls Over my wrong.
Confirmed with William Morris, The Defence of Guenevere, and Other Poems, London: Bell and Daldy, 1858.
Text Authorship:
- by William Morris (1834 - 1896), "In Prison", first published 1858 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Rutland Boughton (1878 - 1960), "In Prison", op. 17 no. 5 (1903) [ voice and piano ], from Six songs of manhood, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-01-02
Line count: 18
Word count: 68