by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906)
Why fades a dream?
Language: English
Why fades a dream? An iridescent ray Flecked in between the tryst Of night and day. Why fades a dream? -- Of consciousness the shade Wrought out by lack of light and made Upon life's stream. Why fades a dream? That thought may thrive, So fades the fleshless dream; Lest men should learn to trust The things that seem. So fades a dream, That living thought may grow And like a waxing star-beam glow Upon life's stream -- So fades a dream.
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906), "Why fades a dream?", appears in Majors and Minors, first published 1895 [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), "Why fades a dream?", 2009 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Wynn Leo Boyd (b. 1902), "Why fades a dream?", published 1964 [ voice and piano ], in American Art Songs [sung text not yet checked]
- by Marie F. Busch , "Why fades a dream?", published 1954 [ medium-high voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-27
Line count: 18
Word count: 80