by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828 - 1882)

Three shadows
Language: English 
I looked and saw your eyes 
In the shadow of your hair, 
As a traveller sees the stream 
In the shadow of the wood; 
And I said, "My faint heart sighs, 
Ah me! to linger there, 
To drink deep and to dream 
In that sweet solitude."
I looked and saw your heart 
In the shadow of your eyes, 
As a seeker sees the gold 
In the shadow of the stream; 
And I said, "Ah me! what art 
Should win the immortal prize, 
Whose want must make life cold 
And Heaven a hollow dream?"
I looked and saw your love 
In the shadow of your heart, 
As a diver sees the pearl 
In the shadow of the sea; 
And I murmured, not above 
My breath, but all apart,-- 
"Ah! you can love, true girl, 
And is your love for me?"

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by George John Bennett.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2013-07-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 140