by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
Death
Language: English
They die -- the dead return not -- Misery Sits near an open grave and calls them over, A Youth with hoary hair and haggard eye -- They are the names of kindred, friend and lover, Which he so feebly calls -- they all are gone -- Fond wretch, all dead! those vacant names alone, This most familiar scene, my pain -- These tombs -- alone remain. Misery, my sweetest friend -- oh, weep no more! Thou wilt not be consoled -- I wonder not! For I have seen thee from thy dwelling's door Watch the calm sunset with them, and this spot Was even as bright and calm, but transitory, And now thy hopes are gone, thy hair is hoary; This most familiar scene, my pain -- These tombs -- alone remain.
Text Authorship:
- by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "Death", first published 1824 [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Konstantin Dmitrevich Bal'mont (1867 - 1942) , "Смерть" [an adaptation] ; composed by Sigizmund Mikhailovich Blumenfel'd.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-02-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 122