by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900)
I would not alter thy cold eyes
Language: English
I would not alter thy cold eyes, Nor trouble the calm fount of speech With aught of passion or surprise. The heart of thee I cannot reach: I would not alter thy cold eyes! I would not alter thy cold eyes; Nor have thee smile, nor make thee weep: Though all my life droops down and dies, Desiring thee, desiring sleep, I would not alter thy cold eyes. I would not alter thy cold eyes; I would not change thee if I might, To whom my prayers for incense rise, Daughter of dreams! my moon of night! I would not alter thy cold eyes. I would not alter thy cold eyes, With trouble of the human heart: Within their glance my spirit lies, A frozen thing, alone, apart; I would not alter thy cold eyes.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Century Guild Hobby Horse, October 1891 as "Fleur de la lune", revised 1896Text Authorship:
- by Ernest Christopher Dowson (1867 - 1900), "Flos lunae", appears in In Praise of Solitude [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 Denis ApIvor (1916 - 2004), "Flos lunae", op. 6 (Songs opus 6) no. ? (1940-6) [ tenor and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Grigory Smirnov (b. 1985), "I would not alter thy cold eyes", subtitle: "Flos Lunae", 2013, published 2013, first performed 2014 [ tenor and piano ], from Dowson Songs, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-04-24
Line count: 20
Word count: 135