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by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861)

The Death of Mr. Barrett
Language: English 
It is true that first words must be said --
But of the past I cannot speak. I believe
Hope had died in me long ago
Of reconciliation in this world...
Occupation is the only thing to keep one
On one's feet a little, that I know well.
Only it is hard sometimes to force oneself
Into occupation...there's -- the hardness.
I take up books -- but my heart goes walking up and down
Constantly through that house on Wimpole Street.
Till it is tired, tired, tired. The truth is,
I am made of paper, and it tears me.

Text Authorship:

  • by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 - 1861), from letters written by E. Browning in Florence to her sister Henrietta in England, between 1846 and 1859 [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 Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019), "The Death of Mr. Barrett", 1983 [voice and piano or orchestra], from Casa Guidi, no. 4. [ sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-10-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 96

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