Over the Fence

“Reflecting the youthful playfulness of its text, ‘Over the Fence’ has an off-balance humor achieved through the piano’s skipping, repetitive triplets and lighthearted, melodramatic vocal line. The piano grows more intricate in the middle section – employing hand crossing techniques reminiscent of Rameau’s keyboard style – while the voice warbles above, attempting to capture the marvelous imagery of God, as a boy, jumping over the fence to eat berries.”

–Lori Laitman

Over the fence — (poem 251)
by Emily Dickinson

Over the fence —
Strawberries — grow —
Over the fence —
I could climb — if I tried, I know —
Berries are nice!

But — if I stained my Apron —
God would certainly scold!
Oh, dear, — I guess if He were a Boy —
He’d — climb — if He could!