Simples

Of cool sweet dew and radiance mild
The moon a web of silence weaves
In the still garden where a child
Gathers the simple salad leaves.

A moondew stars her hanging hair
And moonlight kisses her young brow
And, gathering she sings an air:
[Fair as the wave is, fair art thou!]1

Be mine, I pray, a waxen ear
To shield me from her childish croon,
And mine a shielded heart for her
Who gathers simples of the moon.

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , "Simples", from Pomes Penyeach, no. 7

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

by Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, Sir (1891-1975) , "Simples", published 1933 [voice and piano], from The Joyce Book, no. 7.
by David Del Tredici (1937-) , "Simples", 1965 [soprano, mezzo-soprano or countertenor, and chamber ensemble], from Night Conjure-Verse, no. 1.
by Robin Field (1935-) , "Of cool sweet dew and radiance mild", 1967 [tenor, oboe, and string quartet], from The sly reeds whisper, no. ?
by Benjamin Moore (1960-) , "Simples", from Eight Irish Songs, no. 7.
by Laughton W. Patrick , "Simples", 1959. [medium voice, violin, and piano]
by Bernard Rands (1935-) , "Simples", 1991, from Canti lunatici, no. 2.
by John D. White (1931-) , "Simples" [low voice and piano], from Three Joyce Songs, no. ?

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

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