Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1194167
By Dave Froman. By Dave Froman. Chamber,Classical,Contemporary. Octavo. 12 pages. Dave Froman #793589. Published by Dave Froman (A0.1194167).
2021. SATB, piano, and violin / 4:30
The beautiful and haunting poem Fire and Sleet and Candlelight laments a wasted life. This original piece is reminiscent of the choral standards “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and “Wayfaring Stranger,” evoking what I can hope are similar thrilling feelings of angst and terror for singer, conductor, and listener. Text by poet Elinor Wylie (1885-1928), born in Somerville, New Jersey.
Please reach out if you would like to premiere this piece. davefroman@gmail.com.
Text:
For this you’ve striven
Daring, to fail:
Your sky is riven
Like a tearing veil.
For this, you’ve wasted
Wings of your youth;
Divined, and tasted
Bitter springs of truth.
From sand unslakèd
Twisted strong cords,
And wandered naked
Among trysted swords.
There’s a word unspoken,
A knot untied.
Whatever is broken
The earth may hide.
The road was jagged
Over sharp stones:
Your body’s too ragged
To cover your bones.
The wind scatters
Tears upon dust;
Your soul’s in tatters
Where the spears thrust.
Your race is ended—
See, it is run:
Nothing is mended
Under the sun.
Straight as an arrow
You fall to a sleep
Not too narrow
And not too deep.
