PAGE 7
The Gardener
by
20
Day after day he comes and goes away.
Go, and give him a flower from my hair, my friend.
If he asks who was it that sent it, I entreat you do not tell him my name–for he only comes and goes away.
He sits on the dust under the tree.
Spread there a seat with flowers and leaves, my friend.
His eyes are sad, and they bring sadness to my heart.
He does not speak what he has in mind; he only comes and goes away.
21
Why did he choose to come to my door, the wandering youth, when the day dawned?
As I come in and out I pass by him every time, and my eyes are caught by his face.
I know not if I should speak to him or keep silent. Why did he choose to come to my door?
The cloudy nights in July are dark; the sky is soft blue in the autumn; the spring days are restless with the south wind.
He weaves his songs with fresh tunes every time.
I turn from my work and my eyes fill with the mist. Why did he choose to come to my door?
22
When she passed by me with quick steps, the end of her skirt touched me.
From the unknown island of a heart came a sudden warm breath of spring.
A flutter of a flitting touch brushed me and vanished in a moment, like a torn flower petal blown in the breeze.
It fell upon my heart like a sigh of her body and whisper of her heart.
23
Why do you sit there and jingle your bracelets in mere idle sport?
Fill your pitcher. It is time for you to come home.
Why do you stir the water with your hands and fitfully glance at the road for some one in mere idle sport?
Fill your pitcher and come home.
The morning hours pass by–the dark waters flows on.
The waves are laughing and whispering to each other in mere idle sport.
The wandering clouds have gathered at the edge of the sky on yonder rise of the land.
They linger and look at your face and smile in mere idle sport.
Fill your pitcher and come home.
24
Do not keep to yourself the secret of your heart, my friend!
Say it to me, only to me, in secret.
You who smile so gently, softly whisper, my heart will hear it, not my ears.
The night is deep, the house is silent, the birds’ nests are shrouded with sleep.
Speak to me through hesitating tears, through faltering smiles,
through sweet shame and pain, the secret of your heart!
25
“Come to us, youth, tell us truly why there is madness in your eyes?”
“I know not what wine of wild poppy I have drunk, that there is this madness in my eyes.”
“Ah, shame!”
“Well, some are wise and some foolish, some are watchful and some careless. There are eyes that smile and eyes that weep–and madness is in my eyes.”
“Youth, why do you stand so still under the shadow of the tree?”
“My feet are languid with the burden of my heart, and I stand still in the shadow.”
“Ah, shame!”
“Well, some march on their way and some linger, some are free and some are fettered–and my feet are languid with the burden of my heart.”
26
“What comes from your willing hands I take. I beg for nothing more.”
“Yes, yes, I know you, modest mendicant, you ask for all that one has.”
“If there be a stray flower for me I will wear it in my heart.”
“But if there be thorns?”
“I will endure them.”
“Yes, yes, I know you, modest mendicant, you ask for all that one has.”