2006

When Our Two Souls

For more information about this song, please visit the following page: Three Sonnets After the Portuguese. The audio recording provided in the audio playlist to the right is used with the permission of the composer and features The Corelli Trio (contralto Judit Rajk, violinist Gabor Csonka & bassoonist Geza Hargitai) on Arizona University Recordings.

Text

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

When our two souls stand up erect and strong,
Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,
Until the lengthening wings break into fire
At either curvéd point, — what bitter wrong
Can the earth do to us, that we should not long
Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher,
The angels would press on us and aspire
To drop some golden orb of perfect song
Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay
Rather on earth, Belovéd, — where the unfit
Contrarious moods of men recoil away
And isolate pure spirits, and permit
A place to stand and love in for a day,
With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.