1994
The Country Wife
Composed by 
Alva Henderson
Alva Henderson Text by 
Dana Gioia
Dana Gioia "The Country Wife" sets a poem of Dana Gioia and was premiered at the Hellas Festival in New York City.
"The Country Wife" was published in Gioia's volume Daily Horoscope in 1986.
For visitors interested in obtaining the score to this song, please contact alvahenderson@earthlink.net.
Text
The Country Wife
by Dana Gioia
She makes her way through the dark trees
Down to the lake to be alone.
Following their voices on the breeze,
She makes her way. Through the dark trees
The distant stars are all she sees.
They cannot light the way she’s gone.
She makes her way through the dark trees
Down to the lake to be alone.
The night reflected on the lake,
The fire of stars changed into water.
She cannot see the winds that break
The night reflected on the lake
But knows they motion for her sake.
These are the choices they have brought her:
The night reflected on the lake,
The fire of stars changed into water.
Audio
The Country Wife
John Kramer (baritone) & Marilyn Thompson (piano)4:42