Seven Unaccompanied Partsongs (1934-37)

My spirit sang all day
O my joy.
Nothing my tongue could say,
Only my joy!

My heart an echo caught —
O my joy —
And spake, Tell me thy thought,
Hide not my joy.

My eyes gan peer around, —
O my joy —
What beauty hast thou found?
Shew us thy joy.

My jealous ears grew whist; —
O my joy —
Music from heaven is't,
Sent for our joy?

She also came and heard;
O my joy,
What, said she, is this word?
What is thy joy?

And I replied, O see,
O my joy,
'Tis thee, I cried, 'tis thee:
Thou art my joy.

Robert Bridges