The Silver Swan

Posted by Smokey Stover on November 04, 2004

In Reply to: The Silver Swan posted by OG on November 04, 2004

: :
: : The Silver Swan who, living, had no note,
: : When death approached, unlocked her silent throat.
: : Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
: : Thus sung her first and last,
: : And sung no more:

: : "Farewell all joys, O death come close mine eyes.
: : More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise."

: :
: : Need I say more? SS

: You might say it is an Orlando Gibbons composition.

I might say that, but it might imply that Gibbons was the author of the poem. He set it to music as a madrigal, published in 1601, but no one seems to know who wrote the words. And it is the words that express the sentiments, among others, that I feel today (November 3). SS