Song Offerings

Mother, I shall weave a chain of pearls 
for thy neck with my tears of sorrow.

The stars have wrought their anklets of light 
to deck thy feet, 
but mine will hang upon thy breast.

Wealth and fame come from thee 
and it is for thee to give or to withhold them. 
But this my sorrow is absolutely mine own, 
and when I bring it to thee as my offering 
thou rewardest me with thy grace.

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?

Lumière ! ma lumière ! lumière emplissant le monde,
lumière baiser des yeux, douceur du cœur, lumière !

Ah ! la lumière danse au centre de ma vie !
Bien-aimé, mon amour retentit sous la frappe de la lumière.
Les cieux s'ouvrent ; le vent bondit ; un rire a parcouru la terre.

Sur l'océan de la lumière, mon bien-aimé, le papillon ouvre son aile. 
La crête des vagues de lumière brille de lys et de jasmins.

La lumière, ô mon bien-aimé, brésille l'or sur les nuées ;
elle éparpille à profusion les pierreries.

Une jubilation s'étend de feuille en feuille,
ô mon amour ! une aise sans mesure.
Le fleuve du ciel a noyé ses rives ;
tout le flot de joie est dehors.