She came out of the frost
Her cheeks glowing
And filled the room with chatter
Utterly disrespectful of serious pursuits
All this was somewhat annoying
And rather absurd
My room began to look fearfully crowded
I can’t control this curious handmaid
So I dismiss the muse
I am too tired to quarrel
Telling people’s fortunes by the King of Hearts!
What boredom!
I knew her in those fabled years
One haunted by wondrous desire
A magic landscape—a lonely sleigh
There’s talk—then friendly laughter
And songs
Whispering at the table
Gay and ready wit!
How jolly!
My thoughts are far away and so
I close the volume—sit down—take up my pen
Force my dull muse to say some incoherent words
But harmony is wanting
The sounds won’t chime
She came out of the frost Her cheeks glowing And filled the room with chatter Utterly disrespectful of serious pursuits All this was somewhat annoying And rather absurd My room began to look fearfully crowded I can’t control this curious handmaid So I dismiss the muse I am too tired to quarrel Telling people’s fortunes by the King of Hearts! What boredom! I knew her in those fabled years One haunted by wondrous desire A magic landscape—a lonely sleigh There’s talk—then friendly laughter And songs Whispering at the table Gay and ready wit! How jolly!
My thoughts are far away and so I close the volume—sit down—take up my pen Force my dull muse to say some incoherent words But harmony is wanting The sounds won’t chime
[paraphrased]