Alone, I come to the road.

The stony track gleams in the mist:

the calm night listens to God,

and star is speaking to star.

All’s marvellous, grave, in the sky!

Earth sleeps in the radiant blue …

Why such pain then, such weight on the heart?

Do I regret, wait for something new?

I expect no more from this life

and I’ve no regrets for the past.

I look for freedom and peace:

I want rest and oblivion at last …

But not the chill peace of the grave:

I’d like to sleep for all time

so life’s powers slept in my chest,

and it heaved with my gentle breath:

an enchanted voice in my ear

singing, day and night, of love:

and a dark oak to rustle over me,

and bend down from above.