1908

Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

"Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" is a song by Harry T. Burleigh with text by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Listen

JoAna Rusche, mezzo-soprano; Sara Chiesa, piano2:06

H. T. Burleigh

Composer

Alfred Tennyson

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project.

Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

Tyrese Byrd, tenor; Joshua Marzan, piano2:13

Henry T. Burleigh

Composer

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was part of a concert during the American Song Institute 2022, which took place on the campus of the University of Michigan.

Text

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;

Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;

Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font.

The firefly wakens; waken thou with me.

Now droops the milk-white peacock like a ghost,

And like a ghost she glimmers on to me.

Now lies the Earth all Danaë to the stars,

And all thy heart lies open unto me.

Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves

A shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me.

Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,

And slips into the bosom of the lake.

So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip

Into my bosom and be lost in me.

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