PASTELS

I

A rabbit ran past.

Wow –

The dawn!

He’s sitting and playing,

Opening the eyes of daisies.

The sky is fragrant at sunrise.

Roosters with fiery threads roll back

the black cape of night

– the sun –

A rabbit ran past.


II

The iron day

drank up some good wine.

Blossom, meadows! –

:I’ve been walking – for a day –

Graze, herds! –

:to see my love – for a day –

Ears of grain like cradles sway! –

:during the day.

The iron day

drank up some good wine.


III

It was vibrating with flutes

Where the sun had set.

The evening approached

On tiptoe.

It switched on the stars,

It spread mists over the grass,

And, putting a finger on its lips,

Lay down.

It was vibrating with flutes

Where the sun had set.


IV

Cover me, cover me:

I’m night, I’m old,

I’m infirm.

My black road

Is eternally in dreams.

Place some mint here

And let the poplar rustle.

Cover me, cover me:

I’m night, I’m old,

I’m infirm.

1917