dewdrop

The Dewdrop

The Dewdrop first appeared in Carols from the Coalfields in 1886 and was included in the two later collections of 1888 & 1892.

Ah, be not vain. In yonder flower-bell

As rare a pearl, did I appear,

As ever grew in ocean shell,

To dangle at a Helen’s ear

So too was I till a cruel blast

Arose and swept me to the ground,

When, in the jewel of the past,

Earth but a drop of water found.

I have given this poem a setting in more of an art music style, which I felt it merited. I think of this as one of his most 'poetic' poems. I have left the words virtually unaltered, only making two very small changes to help with the rhythm when singing it.

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