EVENING ON THE LAKE

OF THE FOUR FOREST CANTONS

Chilly lake breezes rippled the waters

Of emerald green

And with no oarsman drove the boat forward

As if in a dream.

Slowly the Alpine sunset was fading;

The bells of Lucerne

Man's load of troubles and those of Nature

To Heaven returned.

Scorched in the blazing sun russet foliage

Sparkled with dew.

Down from the mountains health-giving roses

Their sweet perfume blew.

Into my golden dreams I lay weaving

The rays of the sun;

My thoughts went soaring, earth gladly leaving

Down sky-roads to run.

Starlit the path was down which they hurried,

My heart followed too,

To my forefathers' country beloved

So far now from view.

How many faces, happenings, places

In memory rose,

And bright as dawning shone from beyond where

The boundary goes.

Where below windows climbing nasturtiums

So eagerly stare,

Where hosts of dahlias gaily are twirling

Red hats in the air.

There where my sisters' plaits in the morning

With sweet rue are tied,

Where brother's horse is ready by autumn

To sadle and ride.

Where the Dubysa smoothly is flowing,

With blueness unique...

Why, little teardrop, why are you rolling

And wetting my cheek?

There I spent happy years that I treasure,

The years of my youth.

Now I am sadly wondering whether

It happened in truth.

How many faces, happenings, places

In memory rose

And bright as dawning shone from beyond where

The boundary goes!

Translated by Peter Tempest