Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry: Six Modern Lyrics (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


If I had but two little wings
And were a little feathery bird,
To you I'd fly, my dear!
But thoughts like these are idle things,
And I stay here.

But in my sleep to you I fly:
I'm always with you in my sleep!
The world is all one's own.
But then one wakes, and where am I?
All, all alone.

Sleep stays not, though a monarch bids:
So I love to wake ere break of day:
For though my sleep be gone,
Yet while 'tis dark, one shuts one's lids,
And still dreams on.

First published in The Annual Anthology, Volume II, 1800

?. What voice of gladness

Language: English

Authorship

Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930)

Shorter Poems, Book V

See other settings of this text


What voice of gladness, hark ! 
In heaven is ringing ? 
From the sad fields the lark 
Is upward winging. 

High through the mournful mist that blots our day 
Their songs betray 
them soaring in the grey. 
See them ! Nay, they

In sunlight swim ; above the furthest stain 
Of cloud attain ; 
their hearts in music rain
Upon the plain. 

Sweet birds, far out of sight 
Your songs of pleasure
Dome us with joy as bright 
As heaven's best azure.