To Walt

whitman's words + rorem's music = magic

Sometimes with one I love,
I fill myself with rage,
for fear I effuse unreturn'd love;
But now I think there is no unreturn'd love--
the pay is certain, one way or another;
I loved a certain person ardently,
my love was not return'd;
Yet out of that I have written these songs.

(please do yourself a favor and listen to this
ned rorem song as sung by susan graham.)