The Kiss
SSAA, soprano and alto soli, unaccompanied
Words by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)
Pulitzer prize winning poet, Sara Teasdale (1884-1933), was an early, 20th century, lyric poet. Teasdale published several books of poetry to great critical acclaim. The Kiss was originally published in 1917 in one of Teasdale's collections of poems called Love Songs.
The poem is often interpreted as an angsty poem of longing. I had a very different interpretation when I read it. I feel it is actually a poem of disappointment and disillusionment. This short setting for unaccompanied, women's chorus, seeks to capture a humorous, cheeky, light-hearted take on the poem.
Audio
Photo by Jonah Pettrich on Unsplash