by Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933)
If you have forgotten water lilies...
Language: English
If you have forgotten water lilies floating
On a dark lake among mountains in the afternoon shade,
If you have forgotten their wet, sleepy fragrance,
Then you can return and not be afraid.
But if you remember, then turn away forever
To the plains and the prairies where pools are far apart,
There you will not come at dusk on closing water lilies,
And the shadow of mountains will not fall on your heart.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933), "Water lilies", appears in Flame and Shadow, first published 1920 [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 Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977), "Water lilies", 2018, first performed 2018 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by William Roy (1928 - 2003), "Water lilies", published 1949 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Elinor Remick Warren (1900 - 1991), "If you have forgotten", published 1940 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-04
Line count: 8
Word count: 74