In a churchyard (Hardy, set by G. Finzi) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


    "It is sad that so many of worth,
    Still in the flesh," soughed the yew,
 "Misjudge their lot whom kindly earth
       Secludes from view.

    "They ride their diurnal round
    Each day-span's sum of hours
 In peerless ease, without jolt or bound
       Or ache like ours.

    "If the living could but hear
    What is heard by my roots as they creep
 Round the restful flock, and the things said there, 
       No one would weep."

    "Now set among the wise,"
    They say: "Enlarged in scope,
 That no God trumpet us to rise
       We truly hope."

    I listened to his strange tale
    In the mood that stillness brings,
 And I grew to accept as the day wore pale
       That view of things.

Authorship

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses

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

Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)

Earth and Air and Rain

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!
- Emily

I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.