The Blonde Assassin – Carol Barnett

Composer: Carol Barnett

Text: Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Instrumentation: soprano, piano

Duration: Approx. 1:15 minutes

Date Written:  2007

Composer’s note:  

The Blonde Assassin is one of two songs (along with Leaves Are My Flowers Now) written for the The Schubert Club Songbook, a project initiated by the American Composers Forum as a tribute to Bruce Carlson (1940-2006), the Schubert Club’s long-time executive director. Bruce was one of the first and most stalwart supporters of the Forum, freely sharing his expertise and office space. He could also be laconic and quirky in his comments, not unlike Emily Dickinson’s poetry.

The Blonde Assassin

Apparently with no surprise

To any happy Flower

The Frost beheads it at it’s play –

In accidental power –

The blonde Assassin passes on –

The Sun proceeds unmoved

To measure off another Day

For an Approving God –

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)