Why ‑‑ do they shut me out of Heaven

Why -- do they shut me out of Heaven?
Did I sing -- too loud?
But -- I can sing a little minor,
Timid as a bird.

Wouldn't the angels try me -- 
just -- once -- more --
Just -- see -- if I troubled them --
But don't -- shut the door!

Oh if I -- were the Gentlemen 
in the White [Robe]1
and they -- were the little Hand -- that knocked --
Could -- I -- forbid?

Why do they shut me out of Heaven?
Did I sing too loud?

by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) , no title, from Further poems of Emily Dickinson, published 1929

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

by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) , "Why do they shut me out of Heaven?", 1949-50, published 1951 [voice, piano], from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson, no. 3.
by Irwin Heilner (1908-) , "Poem", 1930, rev. 1972. [medium voice, piano]

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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