I was in the street
The silk of autumn was whispering
I knew that another was there—invisible
A reciter stood on the stage—wild-eyed
Don’t worry
It went off well
Christmas tree burns in the forest with gilded flames
Toy wolves glare from the bushes
And the crystal vault of heaven—laughing without end
One of the handmaidens of the Seraphim was sleeping
Our candles make a twilight at noon
No lack of subject
The mist of events drifts away
(The horseshoes still ring with the old days in our wild wagon train …)
Phaedra the flame is burning by day
And we are amazed
I kiss your sun burnt elbow—I kiss your hand
Nothing can erase this night
But there’s still light with you
I was in the street The silk of autumn was whispering I knew that another was there—invisible A reciter stood on the stage—wild-eyed Don’t worry It went off well Christmas tree burns in the forest with gilded flames Toy wolves glare from the bushes And the crystal vault of heaven—laughing without end
One of the handmaidens of the Seraphim was sleeping Our candles make a twilight at noon No lack of subject The mist of events drifts away (The horseshoes still ring with the old days in our wild wagon train …) Phaedra the flame is burning by day And we are amazed I kiss your sun burnt elbow—I kiss your hand Nothing can erase this night But there’s still light with you
[paraphrased poetry]