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Text
Renouncement
English source:
Alice Meynell
I must not think of thee; and, tired yet strong,
I shun the love that lurks in all delight --
The love of thee -- and in the blue heaven's height,
And in the dearest passage of a song.
Oh, just beyond the sweetest thoughts that throng
This breast, the thought of thee waits hidden yet bright;
But it must never, never come in sight;
I must stop short of thee the whole day long.
But when sleep comes to close each difficult day,
When night gives pause to the long watch I keep,
And all my bonds I needs must loose apart,
Must doff my will as raiment laid away, --
With the first dream that comes with the first sleep
I run, I run, I am gather'd to thy heart.
I shun the love that lurks in all delight --
The love of thee -- and in the blue heaven's height,
And in the dearest passage of a song.
Oh, just beyond the sweetest thoughts that throng
This breast, the thought of thee waits hidden yet bright;
But it must never, never come in sight;
I must stop short of thee the whole day long.
But when sleep comes to close each difficult day,
When night gives pause to the long watch I keep,
And all my bonds I needs must loose apart,
Must doff my will as raiment laid away, --
With the first dream that comes with the first sleep
I run, I run, I am gather'd to thy heart.
Composer
Muriel Herbert
Muriel Herbert (1897-1984) was born in Sheffield and grew up in Liverpool. She showed musical talent at an early age but the death of her father when she was twelve plunged the family into poverty. The Liverpool Scholarship in Composition enabled…
Poet
Performances
Previously performed at:
- The Earth has Music 22 Oct 2024
- The Oxford Lieder Young Artist Programme Audition Recitals (Day Two - Part Two) 18 Mar 2022
- Song at Wolfson: Ted Black & Sholto Kynoch (second performance) 15 Jul 2021
- Song at Wolfson: Ted Black & Sholto Kynoch (first performance) 15 Jul 2021
- Oxford Lieder at Fairlight Hall: Ted Black & Sholto Kynoch 04 Jul 2021
- Oxford Lieder at Rye Creative Centre: Ted Black & Sholto Kynoch 26 Jun 2021