it may not always be so;and i say 
that if your lips,which i have loved,should touch 
another's,and your dear strong fingers clutch 
his heart,as mine in time not far away; 
if on another's face your sweet hair lay 
in such a silence as i know,or such 
great writhing words as,uttering overmuch, 
stand helplessly before the spirit at bay; 

if this should be,i say if this should be-- 
you of my heart,send me a little word; 
that i may go unto him,and take his hands, 
saying,Accept all happiness from me. 
Then shall i turn my face,and hear one bird 
sing terribly afar in the lost lands.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Tulips and Chimneys, New York: Liveright, 1976, page 140.

First published in 1917.

Authorship

• by E. E. (Edward Estlin) Cummings (1894 - 1962), "it may not always be so;and i say", appears in Tulips and Chimneys, first published 1923 [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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "it may not always be so; and i say", 1983 [ high voice and piano ] [ sung text checked 1 time]
• by Henk Badings (1907 - 1987), "it may not always be so", from 8 songs, no. 3 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
• by William Laurence Bergsma (1921 - 1994), "It may not always be so", published 1947 [ tenor and piano ], from Six Songs to Poems by E. E. Cummings, no. 5 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
• by Margaret Garwood , "It may not always be so", published 1963 [ soprano and piano ], from Lovesongs: 6 Songs to Poems of E. E. Cummings [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
• by Brad Mehldau (b. 1970), "it may not always be so; and i say", from Love Songs, no. 1 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]

Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]

Text added to the website: 2007-05-12 00:00:00
Last modified: 2019-07-22 18:28:59
Line count: 14
Word count: 105