Arcturus In Autumn

“Arcturus in autumn” is movement six in the nine-movement a cappella work “Stars forever, while we sleep” and whose text is principally taken from Sara Teasdale’s late work, Dark of the Moon. This poem demonstrates her autumnal turn of mind in which she explores the hidden mysteries of the heart and of life as she peers into the fading light.

Arcturus in autumn
By Sara Teasdale

When, in the gold October dusk, I saw you near to setting,
Arcturus, bringer of spring,
Lord of the summer nights, leaving us now in autumn,
Having no pity on our withering;
Oh then I knew at last that my own autumn was upon me,
I felt it in my blood,
Restless as dwindling streams that still remember
The music of their flood.
There in the thickening dark a wind-bent tree above me
Loosed its last leaves in flight–
I saw you sink and vanish, pitiless Arcturus,
You will not stay to share our lengthening night.