A memory of the players in a mirror at...

They mouth love's language. Gnash
The thirteen teeth
Your lean jaws grin with. Lash
Your itch and quailing, nude greed of the flesh. 
Love's breath in you is stale, worded or sung,
As sour as cat's breath,
Harsh of tongue. 

This grey that stares
Lies not, stark skin and bone. 
Leave greasy lips their kissing. None
Will choose her what you see to mouth upon. 
Dire hunger holds his hour. 
Pluck forth your heart, saltblood, a fruit of tears. 
Pluck and devour!

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , "A memory of the players in a mirror at midnight", 1917, from Pomes Penyeach, no. 11

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

by David Del Tredici (1937-) , "A memory of the players in a mirror at midnight", 1965 [soprano, mezzo-soprano or countertenor, and chamber ensemble], from Night Conjure-Verse, no. 2.
by Sir (Aynsley) Eugene Goossens (1893-1962) , "A memory of the players in a mirror at midnight", published 1933 [voice and piano], from The Joyce Book, no. 11.
by Donald James Martino (1931-2005) , "A memory of the players in a mirror at midnight", published 1970 [soprano, bass, or tenor and piano], from Three songs, no. 3.

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

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