“Let Them Not Say” is for SSAATTBB choir, quite tricky, high ranges needed, 2020). Words by Jane Hirshfield can be found here, or below: all rights to the words are reserved, but the music is available for performance under a Creative Commons license and the words can be used as part of that.
Download the choir-only score or a score with a piano reduction.
A MIDI sample recording is available on request – email Chris Hutchings for queries.
Let Them Not Say – Jane Hirshfield, 1953-
Let them not say: we did not see it.
We saw.
Let them not say: we did not hear it.
We heard.
Let them not say: they did not taste it.
We ate, we trembled.
Let them not say: it was not spoken, not written.
We spoke,
we witnessed with voices and hands.
Let them not say: they did nothing.
We did not-enough.
Let them say, as they must say something:
A kerosene beauty.
It burned.
Let them say we warmed ourselves by it,
read by its light, praised,
and it burned.
—2014