by Adela Florence Nicolson (1865 - 1904), as Laurence Hope
Wings
Language: English
Was it worth while to forego our wings To gain these dextrous hands? Truly they fashion us wonderful things As the fancy of man demands. But -- to fly! to sail through the lucid air From crest to violet crest Of these great grey mountains, quartz-veined and bare, Where the white clouds gather and rest. Even to flutter from flower to flower, -- To skim the tops of the trees, -- In the roseate light of a sun-setting hour To drift on a sea-going breeze. Ay, the hands have marvellous skill To create us curious things, -- Baubles, playthings, weapons to kill, -- But -- I would we had chosen wings!
Text Authorship:
- by Adela Florence Nicolson (1865 - 1904), as Laurence Hope, "Wings" [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):
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-06
Line count: 16
Word count: 106