Contemporary poet Laura Foley's text for Returning describes watching and waiting for the return of wild geese—or any beloved thing—each passing year. This setting of her poem features a simple audience refrain that recurs three times. The refrain, included here and in the score's program notes, may be re-printed in the program or easily taught through call-and-response before the piece is sung. 

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Returning was commissioned by Minnesota-based chorus Magpies & Ravens (Curtis Kettler, director).

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Peruse or purchase all three voicings of this piece at Graphite Marketplace.

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RETURNING

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I have learned this:
if you stay in one place long enough

they will return to you.

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[REFRAIN:

They will return to you,

they will return to you,

they will return.]

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The geese you saw leaving,

their feet rising into dark bodies.

They will return.

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[REFRAIN]

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All you need to do is watch the sun each day

as it tumbles through the sky
and they will come again.

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[REFRAIN]

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They will return, floating toward you,

their damp bodies
still trembling from flight.

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—Laura Foley

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*Note: Text for the refrain is not part of Laura Foley's poem.

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