by Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918)
Sing me at morn but only with your laugh
Language: English
Sing me at morn but only with your laugh; Even as Spring that laugheth into leaf; Even as Love that laugheth after Life. Sing me but only with your speech all day, As voluble leaflets do; let viols die; The least word of your lips is melody! Sing me at eve but only your sigh! Like lifting seas it solaceth; breathe so, Slowly and low, the sense that no songs say. Sing me at midnight with your murmurous heart! Let youth's immortal-moaning chord be heard Throbbing through you, and sobbing, unsubdued.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Hydra, September 1917Text Authorship:
- by Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918), "Song of songs" [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 William Hellerman (b. 1939), "Poem for soprano and four instruments" [ soprano, flute, clarinet, trombone, violoncello ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bernard P. Langley , "Song of songs", 1970-2 [ tenor and orchestra or piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, adapted by John Greer (b. 1954) , "Song of songs" [an adaptation] ; composed by John Greer.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 91