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L’Envoi
By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Bracketed words by Mark Adams

A – E – G – D

Now in a thought, now in a shadowed word,
Now in a voice that thrills eternity,
Ever there comes an onward phrase to me
Of some transcendent music I have heard;


Bm – G – A
No piteous thing by soft hands dulcimered,
No trumpet crash of blood-sick victory,
But a glad strain of some vast harmony
That no brief mortal touch has ever stirred.

A – E – G – D

There is no music in the world like this,

No character wherewith to set it down,

No kind of instrument to make it sing.

No kind of instrument? Ah, yes, there is;


Bm – G – A
And after time and place are overthrown,
God’s touch will keep its one chord quivering,
[And the shadows will form with figures full
Arms outstretched to the heavens bold
And every poet will hear their story told
They will all find what they were looking for]


A – E – G – D
Now in a thought, now in a shadowed word,
Now in a voice that thrills eternity,
Ever there comes an onward phrase to me
Of some transcendent music I have heard…

Demo –

© 2011, Mark Adams. All rights reserved.