by Edward Carpenter (1844 - 1929)
April
Language: English
O April, month of Nymphs and Fauns and Cupids, Month of the Sungod's kisses, Earth's sweet passion, Of fanciful winds and showers; Apollo, glorious over hill and dale Ethereally striding; grasses springing Rapt to his feet, buds bursting, flowers out-breathing Their liberated hearts in love to him. (The little black-cap garrulous on the willow Perching so prim, the crested chaffinch warbling, And primrose and celandine, anemone and daisy, Starring the tender herb which lambs already nibble.) Month of all-gathering warmth, Of breathless moments, hotter and hotter growing -- Smiles turned to fire, kisses to fierce earnest -- Of sultry swoons, pauses, and strange suspense (Clouds and daemonic thunder through the blue vault threateningly rolling); Then the delirious up-break -- the great fountains of the deep, in Sex, Loosened to pouring failing rushing waters; Shafts of wild light; and Sky and Earth in one another's arms Melted, and all of Heaven spent in streams of love Towards the Loved one.
Text Authorship:
- by Edward Carpenter (1844 - 1929), "April", appears in Towards Democracy, first published 1883 [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 Henry Balfour Gardiner (1877 - 1950), "April", <<1950. [chorus and orchestra] [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-04
Line count: 21
Word count: 157