The poem Nature by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) compares a sleepy child being led off to bed to elderly people waiting for death. The composer chose this poem from among many because of his father’s death and the birth of his child- personal experience with both realities. It was composed for the 2008–2009 Longfellow Chorus International Composers Competition where it was awarded co-first prize. c. 4:00