by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861)
Grief
Language: English
I tell you, hopeless grief is passionless; That only men incredulous of despair, Half-taught in anguish, through the midnight air Beat upward to God's throne in loud access Of shrieking and reproach. Full desertness In souls as countries lieth silent-bare Under the blanching, vertical eye-glare Of the absolute Heavens. Deep-hearted man, express Grief for thy Dead in silence like to death -- Most like a monumental statue set In everlasting watch and moveless woe Till itself crumble to the dust beneath. Touch it; the marble eyelids are not wet: If it could weep, it could arise and go.
First published in Graham's Magazine, 1842, rev. 1844
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Text Authorship:
- by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861) [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 Carpenter , "Grief" [ mezzo-soprano or contralto and piano ], from Love's Eternity - Five Songs of Elizabeth Barrett Browning for Mezzo (or Contralto) & Piano, no. 2, Camden Music [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 - 1912), "Grief", op. 42 no. 3, published 1900 [ alto and orchestra ], from The Soul's Expression, no. 3, London: Novello [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ned Rorem (1923 - 2022), "Grief", 2002 [ medium voice, violin, cello, and piano ], from Aftermath, no. 7, Boosey & Hawkes [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-12-16
Line count: 14
Word count: 97