by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950)
Wraith
Language: English
"Thin Rain, whom are you haunting, That you haunt my door?" -- Surely it is not I she's wanting; Someone living here before -- "Nobody's in the house but me: You may come in if you like and see." Thin as thread, with exquisite fingers, -- Have you seen her, any of you? -- Grey shawl, and leaning on the wind, And the garden showing through? Glimmering eyes, -- and silent, mostly, Sort of a whisper, sort of a purr, Asking something, asking it over, If you get a sound from her. -- Ever see her, any of you? -- Strangest thing I've ever known, -- Every night since I moved in, And I came to be alone. "Thin Rain, hush with your knocking! You may not come in! This is I that you hear rocking; Nobody's with me, nor has been!" Curious, how she tried the window, -- Odd, the way she tries the door, -- Wonder just what sort of people Could have had this house before . . .
Text Authorship:
- by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 - 1950), "Wraith", appears in Second April, first published 1921 [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 Eric Ewazen (b. 1954), "Wraith", 1990 [ high voice and piano ], from Three Lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ivana M. Themmen , "Wraith" [ soprano and orchestra ], from Shelter this candle from the wind [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-06-04
Line count: 26
Word count: 162