by Thomas Wyatt, Sir (1503 - 1542)
I see my plaint with open ears
Language: English
I see my plaint with open ears Is heard, alas, and laughing eyes. I see that scorn beholds my tears And all the harm hap can devise. I see my life away so wears That I myself myself despise. And most of all wherewith I strive Is that I see myself alive.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Sir Thomas Wyatt, The Complete Poems, Penguin Books Limited, 2015
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Wyatt, Sir (1503 - 1542), no title, subtitle: "Epigram" [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 Sheree Clement (b. 1955), "…wherewith I strive …" [ mezzo-soprano, flute and harp or piano ], from Wherewith I Strive, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-11-07
Line count: 8
Word count: 52