Songs

Renouncement

by Muriel Herbert

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Text

Renouncement
English source: Alice Meynell

I must not think of thee; and, tired [yet]1 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.

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…

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