by Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton (1809 - 1885)
Strangers yet
Language: English
Strangers yet! After years of life together, After fair and stormy weather, After travel in far lands, After touch of wedded hands, — Why thus joined? Why ever met. If they must be strangers yet? Strangers yet! After childhood’s winning ways. After care and blame and praise. Counsel asked and wisdom given. After mutual prayers to Heaven, Child and parent scarce regret When they part — are strangers yet Strangers yet! After strife for common ends — After title of ”old friends,” After passions fierce and tender, After cheerful self-surrender. Hearts may beat and eyes be met. And the souls be strangers yet. Strangers yet! Oh! the bitter thought to scan All the loneliness of man:— Nature, by magnetic laws, Circle unto circle draws, But they only touch when met, Never mingle — strangers yet Strangers yet! Will it evermore be thus — Spirits still impervious? Shall we never fairly stand Soul to soul as hand to hand? Are the bounds eternal set To retain us — strangers yet? Strangers yet! Tell not Love it must aspire Unto something other — higher: God himself were loved the best Were our sympathies at rest, Rest above the strain and fret Of the world of — strangers yet!
Authorship:
- by Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton (1809 - 1885), "Strangers yet!" [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 Charlotte Alington Pye (1830 - 1869), as Claribel, "Strangers yet", published 1869? [ voice and piano ], London : Boosey & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-24
Line count: 42
Word count: 206