The first spring day (Rossetti, set by M. Davey, A. MacKenzie, M. Phillips, L. Somerset) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,
If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,
If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun
And crocus fires are kindling one by one:
    Sing, robin, sing;
I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.

I wonder if the springtide of this year
Will bring another Spring both lost and dear;
If heart and spirit will find out their Spring,
Or if the world alone will bud and sing: 
    Sing, hope, to me;
Sweet notes, my hope, soft notes for memory.

The sap will surely quicken soon or late,
The tardiest bird will twitter to a mate;
So Spring must dawn again with warmth and bloom,
Or in this world, or in the world to come:
    Sing, voice of Spring,
Till I too blossom and rejoice and sing.

Authorship

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Goblin Market and other Poems

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

Murray MacDonald Davey

Sir Alexander Campbell MacKenzie (1847-1935)

Montague Fawcett Phillips (1885-1969)

Lord Henry (Richard Charles) Somerset (1849-1932)

Date added to the website: 2006-01-19.

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