1967
Lessons
Composed by 
John Woods Duke
John Woods Duke Text by 
Sara Teasdale
Sara Teasdale Songs Out of Sorrow: Six Songs for Mezzo Song Collection
"Lessons" is the third song in John Duke's song cycle Songs Out of Sorrow: Six Songs for Mezzo-Soprano. The song cycle sets the poetry of Sara Teasdale.
Text
Lessons
by Sara Teasdale
Unless I learn to ask no help
From any other soul but mine,
To seek no strength in waving reeds
Nor shade beneath a straggling pine;
Unless I learn to look at Grief
Unshrinking from her tear-blind eyes,
And take from Pleasure fearlessly
Whatever gifts will make me wise —
Unless I learn these things on earth,
Why was I ever given birth?
Sheet Music