March

The Sun at noon to higher air,
Unharnessing the silver Pair
That late before his chariot swam,
Rides on the gold wool of the Ram.

So braver notes the storm-cock sings
To start the rusted wheel of things,
And brutes in field and brutes in pen
Leap that the world goes round again.

The boys are up the woods with day
To fetch the daffodils away,
And home at noonday from the hills
They bring no dearth of daffodils.

Afield for palms the girls repair,
And sure enough the palms are there,
And each will find by hedge or pond
Her waving silver-tufted wand.

In farm and field through all the shire
The eye beholds the heart's desire;
Ah, let not only mine be vain,
For lovers should be loved again.

by Alfred Edward Housman (1859-1936) , "March", from A Shropshire Lad, no. 10, published 1896

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

by Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) , "The Sun at noon to higher air", published 1926 [baritone, string quartet, and piano], from The Western Playland, no. 8.
by John Ireland (1879-1962) , "The heart's desire", published 1918, stanzas 3-5. [voice and piano or orchestra]

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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