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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Could I but ride indefinite
Language: English 
Could I but ride indefinite
As doth the Meadow Bee
And visit only where I liked
And No one visit me

And flirt all Day with Buttercups
And marry whom I may
And dwell a little everywhere
Or better, run away

With no Police to follow
Or chase Him if He do
Till He should jump Peninsulas
To get away from me --

I said "But just to be a Bee"
Upon a Raft of Air
And row in Nowhere all Day long
And anchor "off the Bar"

What Liberty! So Captives deem
Who tight in Dungeons are.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title [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 Robert Owens (1925 - 2017), "Could I but ride indefinite", op. 21 no. 4 [baritone and piano], from 4 Motivations for Baritone and Piano, no. 4. [ sung text not verified ]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-10-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 97

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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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