All That Could Never Be Said — Movement IX from The Lost Birds

With a simple melody inspired by children's songs, “All That Could Never Be Said” is a setting of Sara Teasdale's poem “In the End.” Showcasing her signature pairing of nihilism and pastoral beauty, the poem is an exploration of regret: it suggests that the consequences of our inaction are final and absolute. There are no second chances to speak up or to act; all our missed opportunities will be lost to us until we're reunited with them in death.