This heart that flutters near my heart

by James Joyce (1882 - 1941)

This heart that flutters near my heart

Language: English

Available translation(s): FRE SPA

This heart that flutters near my heart 
  My hope and all my riches is, 
Unhappy when we draw apart 
  And happy between kiss and kiss; 
My hope and all my riches - yes! - 
And all my happiness. 

For there, as in some mossy nest 
  The wrens will divers treasures keep, 
I laid those treasures I possessed 
  Ere that mine eyes had learned to weep. 
Shall we not be as wise as they 
Though love live but a day?

About the headline (FAQ)

Authorship:

by James Joyce (1882 - 1941), appears in Chamber Music, no. 23, first published 1907 [author's text not yet checked 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 David Arditti (b. 1964), "This heart that flutters near my heart", op. 20 no. 14 (1998) [tenor and string quartet], from Chamber Music, no. 14. [ sung text verified 1 time]
by Joan Ferris , "This heart that flutters near my heart", published 1967 [SATB chorus a cappella], from Six Songs [ sung text not verified ]
by Ross Lee Finney (1906 - 1997), "This heart that flutters near my heart", 1952, published 1985, first performed 1975 [voice and piano], from Chamber Music, no. 23, Henmar Press [ sung text not verified ]
by Ben Moore (b. 1960), "This heart that flutters" [voice and piano], from 14 Songs, no. 11, G. Schirmer [ sung text not verified ]
by Rick Sowash (b. 1950), "This heart that flutters near my heart", 1998 [mezzo-soprano, viola, clarinet, flute, and piano], from Along the River, no. 5. [ sung text verified 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 79