by Rupert Brooke (1887 - 1915)
Fafaia
Language: English
Stars that seem so close and bright, Watched by lovers through the night, Swim in emptiness, men say, Many a mile and year away. And yonder star that burns so white, May have died to dust and night Ten, or maybe, fifteen year, Before it shines upon my dear. Oh! often among men below, Heart cries out to heart, I know, And one is dust a many years, Child, before the other hears. Heart from heart is all as far, Fafaia, as star from star.
Confirmed with Rupert Brooke, Fafaia, Rupert Brooke Society; written Saanapu, November 1913
Text Authorship:
- by Rupert Brooke (1887 - 1915), "Fafaia", written 1913, appears in The South Seas, no. 11 [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 Grace-Evangeline Mason (b. 1994), "Fafaia", 2018, first performed 2018 [ chorus and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-04-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 85