The little green orchard

Some one is always sitting there,
        In the little green orchard;
  Even when the sun is high
  In noon's unclouded sky,
  And faintly droning goes
  The bee from rose to rose,
Some one in shadow is sitting there
        In the little green orchard.

Yes, when the twilight's falling softly
        In the little green orchard;
  When the grey dew distills
  And every flower-cup fills;
  When the last blackbird says,
  'What - what!' and goes her way - ssh!
I have heard voices calling softly
        In the little green orchard

Not that I am afraid of being there,
       In the little green orchard;
  Why, when the moon's been bright,
  Shedding her lonesome light,
  And moths like ghosties come,
  And the horned snail leaves home:
I've sat there, whispering and listening there,
        In the little green orchard.

Only it's strange to be feeling there,
        In the little green orchard;
  Whether you paint or draw,
  Dig, hammer, chop or saw;
  When you are most alone,
  All but the silence gone
Some one is watching and waiting there,
        In the little green orchard.

by Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) , "The little green orchard", from Peacock Pie: A Book of Rhymes, published 1913

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

by Harry Farjeon (1878-1948) , "The little green orchard", published <<1940, from The Little Green Orchard
by Cecil Armstrong Gibbs (1889-1960) , "The little green orchard", op. 15 no. 1, published 1932 [solo voice, SSAA, and piano], note: originally op. 9 no. 2
by Frederick Keel (1871-1954) , "The little green orchard", published <<1951. [unison voices and piano]

Date added to the website: 2008-01-11.

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