by William Blake (1757 - 1827)
O! why was I born with a different face?
Language: English
O! why was I born with a different face? Why was I not born like the rest of my race? When I look, each one starts; when I speak, I offend; Then I'm silent and passive, and lose every friend. Then my verse I dishonour, my pictures despise, My person degrade, and my temper chastise; And the pen is my terror, the pencil my shame; All my talents I bury, and dead is my fame. I am either too low, or too highly priz'd; When elate I'm envied; when meek I'm despis'd.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by William Blake (1757 - 1827), no title, from a letter to Thomas Butts [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 Caspar J. Diethelm (b. 1926), "Oh why", op. 153 no. 5 (1977) [mixed chorus a cappella], from 5 Madrigale, no. 5. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-04
Line count: 10
Word count: 92