A Noiseless, Patient Spider
words by Walt Whitman, 1819-1892, now in the public domain
music © 1985 Jane Best
no intro; on background CD-hear 4 beats of A , then enter on E
Amaj7
A noiseless, patient spider,
F#m7 Bm7
I mark'd, where, on a little promontory,
E F#m
it stood, isolated;
E7 A
Mark'd how, to explore the vacant,
F#m
vast surrounding,
C#m F#m
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament,
C#m
out of itself;
Bm
Ever unreeling them,
F#m
ever tirelessly speeding them.
Amaj7 F#m F#m7
And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Bm E7
Surrounded, detached,
A E
in measureless oceans of space,
F#m
Ceaselessly musing, venturing,
C#m
throwing,-- seeking the spheres,
Bm
to connect them;
Bm7 F#m
Till the bridge you will need, be form'd,
Bm7
till the ductile anchor hold;
E F#m C#m
Till the gossamer thread you fling,
D Amaj7
catch somewhere, O my Soul.