by Kathleen Raine (1908 - 2003)
Spell Against Sorrow
Language: English
Who will take away Carry away sorrow, Bear away grief/ Stream wash away Float away sorrow, Flow away, bear away Wear away sorrow, Carry away grief. Mists hide away Shroud my sorrow, Cover the mountains, Overcloud remembrance, Hide away grief. Earth take away Make away sorrow, Bury the lark's bones Under the turf. Bury my grief. Black crow tear away Rend away sorrow, Talon and beak Pluck out the heart And the nerves of pain, Tear away grief. Sun take away Melt away sorrow, Dew lies grey, Rain hangs on the grass, Sun dry tears. Sleep take away Make away sorrow, Take away the time, Fade away place, Carry me away From the world of my sorrow. Song sigh away Breathe away sorrow, Words tell away, Spell away sorrow, Charm away grief.
Text Authorship:
- by Kathleen Raine (1908 - 2003), "Spell Against Sorrow", written 1952 [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 Helen Gifford (b. 1935), "Spell Against Sorrow" [ mezzo-soprano and guitar ], from Spell Against Sorrow, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-31
Line count: 40
Word count: 132