An oyster (Crossley-Holland, set by A. Bliss) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


The deep sea suckled me, the waves sounded over me;
Rollers were my coverlet as I rested on my bed.
I have no feet, and frequently open my mouth
To the flood. Sooner or later some man will
Consume me, who cares nothing for my shell.
With the point of his knife he will pierce me through,
Ripping the skin away from my side, and straight away
Eat me uncooked as I am . . .
The answer: An Oyster.

Input by Ted Perry

Authorship

Kevin John William Crossley-Holland (1941-)

The Exeter Book

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

Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, Sir (1891-1975)

A knot of riddles

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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