'Black Mrs. Behemoth'

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General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Arrangements – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Text:
Dame Edith Sitwell (1887–1964)
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Text:

In a room of the palace
Black Mrs. Behemoth
Gave way to wroth
And the wildest malice.
Cried Mrs. Behemoth,
'Come, come,
Come, court lady,
Doomed like a moth,
Through palace rooms shady!'
The candle flame
Seemed a yellow pompion,
Sharp as a scorpion,
Nobody came…
Only a bugbear
Air unkind,
That bud-furred papoose,
The young spring wind,
Blew out the candle.
Where is it gone?
To flat Coromandel
Rolling on!

— Dame Edith Sitwell (1887–1964)

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Solo Vocal Music – Façade