The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #4074   Message #3561323
Posted By: Taconicus
25-Sep-13 - 07:48 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Wildwood Flower / I'll Twine 'Mid the ...
Subject: RE: Origins: Wildwood Flower / I'll Twine 'Mid the ...
Yes, he had a number of poems published in Peterson's under the name Maud Irving, and of course his big book of poetry published in 1868.

Here are the lyrics to Broken Harp published as a song in 1861, with music by a different composer. Pretty dreary, maudlin stuff, even with the flowers in it, but if you really want to try it I can supply you with the music:

Broken Harp
poetry by Maud Irving
music by N.P.B. Curtiss
Published by Russell & Tolman (Boston, 1861)


You bid me mend my broken harp,
And add another string;
You bid me strike an higher key,
And soar on higher wing.

Oh! friend, dear friend, you know not of
The broken ties, the woe;
You know not of the dark, dark clouds
That follow me where're I go
You know not of the dark, dark clouds
That follow me where're I go


You bid me treat the wrong I've felt,
With bitter withering scorn,
But oh, you know not how my heart
Is bleeding, sad, forlorn,

I cannot sing in cheerful strains,
When all my joys have fled,
When every flower of love and hope,
Their fragrance all, all have shed.
When every flower of love and hope,
Their fragrance all, all have shed.


Oh no, my lyre must wake the song,
The song of grief and woe;
For while I linger on this earth,
My heart no joy can know.

The clouds that float above my head,
Are not with silver lined,
And but a few short months will life
To earth my spirit bind.
And but a few short months will life
To earth my spirit bind.