s 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."

"If but once you should raise your loving eyes to my face it
would make my life sweet beyond death."
"But if there by only cruel glances?"
"I will keep them piercing my heart."
"Yes, yes, I know you, modest mendicant, you ask for all that one
has."

27

"Trust love even if it brings sorrow. Do not close up your
heart."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
them."

"The heart is only for giving away with a tear and a song, my
love."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
them."

"Pleasure is frail like a dewdrop, while it laughs it dies. But
sorrow is strong and abiding. Let sorrowful love wake in your
eyes."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
them."

"The lotus blooms in the sight of the sun, and loses all that it
has. It would not remain in bud in the eternal winter mist."
"Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand
them."

28

Your questioning eyes are sad. They seek to know my meaning as
the moon would fathom the sea.
I have bared my life before your eyes from end to end, with
nothing hidden or held back. That is why you know me not