Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
I know some lonely Houses off the Road A Robber'd like the look of -- Wooden barred, And Windows hanging low, Inviting to -- A Portico, Where two could creep -- One -- hand the Tools -- The other peep -- To make sure All's Asleep -- Old fashioned eyes -- Not easy to surprise! How orderly the Kitchen'd look, by night, With just a Clock -- But they could gag the Tick -- And Mice won't bark -- And so the Walls -- don't tell -- None -- will -- A pair of Spectacles ajar just stir -- An Almanac's aware -- Was it the Mat -- winked, Or a Nervous Star? The Moon -- slides down the stair, To see who's there! There's plunder -- where -- Tankard, or Spoon -- Earring -- or Stone -- A Watch -- Some Ancient Brooch To match the Grandmama -- Staid sleeping -- there -- Day -- rattles -- too Stealth's -- slow -- The Sun has got as far As the third Sycamore -- Screams Chanticleer "Who's there"? And Echoes -- Trains away, Sneer -- "Where"! While the old Couple, just astir, Fancy the Sunrise -- left the door ajar!
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1890 [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 George Perle (1915 - 2009), "I know some lonely houses off the road", 1977 [ voice and piano ], from Thirteen Dickinson Songs, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 164
Je connais quelques Maisons solitaires à l'écart de la Route Qu'un Voleur aimerait regarder -- Avec des barreaux en bois, Et des fenêtres qui descendent bas, Invitant à -- Un portique, Où deux pourraient ramper -- L'un -- les Outils à la main -- L'autre veillant -- Pour être sûr que Tous Dorment-- Des yeux à l'ancienne -- pas faciles à surprendre ! Comme la Cuisine semble en ordre, la nuit, Avec juste une Horloge -- Mais ils pourraient bâillonner le Tic-Tac -- Et les Souris n'aboieront pas-- Et les Murs -- ne disent rien -- Personne -- ne dira -- Une paire de Lunettes entrouvertes -- Un Almanach est éveillé -- Était-ce le Paillasson -- qui a fait un clin d'œil, Ou une Étoile Nerveuse ? La Lune -- glisse jusqu'en bas de l'escalier, Pour voir qui va là ! Il y a du pillage -- où -- Chope, ou Cuillère -- Boucle d'oreille -- ou Pierre -- Une Montre -- Quelque Broche Ancienne Pour aller avec la Grand-mère -- Restaient endormies -- là Le Jour -- s'agite -- aussi Est furtif -- lent -- Le Soleil est allé aussi loin Que le troisième Sycomore -- Chantecler crie "Qui va là"? Et des Échos -- des Trains au loin, Ricanent - "Où" ! Tandis que le vieux couple, juste levé, S'imagine que l'Aube -- a laissé la porte entrouverte !
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2009 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems of Emily Dickinson, first published 1890
This text was added to the website: 2009-01-11
Line count: 40
Word count: 193