The Chained Muse

The soul of mankind

Is like water:

From Heaven coming,

To Heaven rising,

Again descending –

As it must – Earthward,

Ever circling.

It streams from high on

The steep rock wall,

A clear, pure stream;

Then lovingly dusts

In swelling cloud-waves

Against smooth rock;

And striking lightl...

Immortal Aphrodite, throned in splendor!
Wile-weaving daughter of Zeus, enchantress, and beguiler!
I implore you, dread mistress, discipline me no longer
with love's anguish!

But come to me once again in kindness,
heeding my prayers as you did before;
O, come Divine O...

He stood on the ancient battlements,

Proudly gazing from the parapets

On Samos, over which he reigned.

“This vast realm bends under my firm yoke,”

He said to the Egyptian monarch.

“My fortune cannot be contained.”

“Truly, you’ve fared on fortunate seas;

Yours foes have been b...

How brightly nature

Shines this morning!

See the glowing sun!

Hear the fields sing!

Fragrant buds burst forth
From each green frond!
A thousand bushes
Resound with song!

And joy and wonder
Streams from each breast.
Oh Earth! Oh bright Sun!
My heart won't rest!

Loveliest of l...

I know the day comes when my eyes close,
when my sight fails,
when life takes its leave in silence
and the last curtain veils my vision.
Yet the stars will still watch by night;
the sun will still rise like before;
the hours will still heave like sea waves
casting up p...

Holy night, descending softly,

Descending, too, are our dreams,

Like moonlight through a darkened room,

Through the depths of a man`s breast.

He listens with elation;

When Night starts to fade, he cries:

Come back, holy night,

Return, sweetest dreams, return!

Translation © Dav...

Full-blossoming moon! Here in thy light
Like flowing gold the ocean gleams;
As limpid as day, yet dimly bewitched,
Reposing across the expanse of the strand;
And in the bright blue, starless heavens
Hover the clouds of white,
Like colossal god-tableaus
Of luminous marb...

Fall rain, fall upon this old world,

And wake deep inside me the dreams

That I dreamt when I was a child,

When rain would wet the golden sand.

When the sultry summer breezes

Frolicked through the evening coolness

And the morning’s dewy leaves thawed,

When the crops shone a da...