Away

The road is my wedded companion;
She speaks to me under my feet all day, 
she sings to my dreams all night.

My meeting with her had no beginning;
it begins endlessly at each daybreak, 
renewing its summer in fresh flowers and songs, 
and her every new kiss is the first kiss to me.

The road and I are lovers. 
I change my dress for her night after night, leaving the tattered 
cumber of the old in the wayside inns when the day dawns.

Early in the day it was whispered 
that we should sail in a boat, only thou and I, 
and never a soul in the world 
would know of this our pilgrimage 
to no country and to no end.

In that shoreless ocean, 
at thy silently listening smile 
my songs would swell in melodies, 
free as waves, free from all bondage of words.

Is the time not come yet? 
Are there works still to do? 
Lo, the evening has come down upon the shore 
and in the fading light 
the seabirds come flying to their nests.

Who knows when the chains will be off, 
and the boat, like the last glimmer of sunset, 
vanish into the night?

The night was dark when she went away, and they slept. 
The night is dark now, and I call for her, 

"Come back, my darling; 
the world is asleep; 
and no one would know, if you came for a moment while stars are gazing at stars."

She went away when the trees were in bud and the spring was young. 
Now the flowers are in high bloom and I call, 

"Come back, my darling. The children gather 
and scatter flowers in reckless sport. 
And if you come and take one little blossom no one will miss it." 

Those that used to play are playing still, so spendthrift is life. 
I listen to their chatter and call, 

"Come back, my darling, for mother's heart 
is full to the brim with love, 
and if you come to snatch only one little kiss from her no one will grudge it."