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by George William Russell (1867 - 1935)

Illusion
Language: English 
What is the love of shadowy lips
That know not what they seek or press,
From whom the lure for ever slips
And fails their phantom tenderness?
 
The mystery and light of eyes
That near to mine grow dim and cold;
They move afar in ancient skies
Mid flame and mystic darkness rolled.
 
O beauty, as thy heart o'erflows
In tender yielding unto me,
A vast desire awakes and grows
Unto forgetfulness of thee.

Text Authorship:

  • by George William Russell (1867 - 1935), "Illusion", appears in The Earth Breath and Other Poems, first published 1897 [author's text not yet checked 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 Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "Illusion", op. 31 (Seven Sets of Seven Songs, Set IV) no. 7 (1918) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-08-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

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