Composer’s Note:

Composed in early 1990, this song cycle brings together seven inventive, magical, and verbally brilliant poems by one of America’s essential poets, arranged in an arch form according to musical materials and characters. The first, fourth and last songs refer to people, and have a narrative, cabaret quality. The second and sixth are devotional. The third and fifth are love poems. Both voice and piano parts are challenging, but also outgoing, tender, fanciful and fervent.