Drie liederen

Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune -- I myself am good fortune;
[Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content, I travel the open road.]1

The earth -- that is sufficient;
I do not want the constellations any nearer;
I know they are very well where they are;
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens; 
I carry them, men and women -- I carry them with me wherever I go;
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them;
I am fill'd with them, and I will fill them in return.)

Tears! tears! tears!
In the night, in solitude, tears,
On the white shore dripping, dripping, suck'd in by the sand,
Tears, not a star shining, all dark and desolate,
Moist tears from the eyes of a muffled head;
O who is that ghost? that form in the dark, with tears?
What shapeless lump is that, bent, crouch'd there on the sand?
Streaming tears, sobbing tears, throes, choked with wild cries;
O storm, embodied, rising, careering with swift steps along the beach!
O wild and dismal night storm, with wind - O howling and desperate!
O shade so sedate by day, with calm countenance and steady pace,
But away at night as you fly, none looking - O then the unloosen'd ocean,
Of tears! tears! tears!

Youth, large, lusty, loving --
  Youth full of grace, force, fascination!
Do you know that Old Age may come after you,
  with equal grace, force, fascination?

Day, full-blown and splendid -- 
  Day of the immense sun, action, ambition, laughter.
The Night follows close, with millions of suns, 
  and sleep, and restoring darkness.