Dark to me is the earth. Dark to me are the heavens.
Where is she that I loved, the woman with eyes like stars ? 
Desolate are the streets. Desolate is the city,
A city taken by storm, where none are left but the slain !

Sadly I rose at dawn, undid the latch of my shutters, 
Thinking to let in light, but I only let in love.
Birds in the boughs were awake ; I listened to their chaunting ; 
Each one sang to his love ; only I was alone.

This, I said in my heart, is the hour of life and of pleasure, 
Now each creature on earth has his joy, and lives in the sun,
Each in another's eyes finds light, the light of compassion, 
This is the moment of pity, this is the moment of love.

Speak, 0 desolate city ! Speak, 0 silence in sadness ! 
Where is she that I loved in my strength, that spoke to my soul ? 
Where are those passionate eyes that appealed to my eyes in passion ?
Where is the mouth that kissed me, the breast I laid to my own ?

Speak, thou soul of my soul, for rage in my heart is kindled.
Tell me, where didst thou flee on the day of destruction and fear ? 
See, my arms still enfold thee, enfolding thus all Heaven,
See, my desire is fulfilled in thee, for it fills the Earth.

Thus in my grief I lamented. Then turned I from the window, 
Turned to the stair, and the open door, and the empty street,
Crying aloud in my grief, for there was none to chide me, 
None to mock at my weakness, none to behold my tears.

Groping I went, as blind. I sought her house, my beloved's. 
There I stopped at the silent door, and listened and tried the latch. 
Love, I cried, dost thou slumber ? This is no hour for slumber, 
This is the hour of love, and love I bring in my hand.

I knew the house, with its windows barred, and its leafless fig-tree,
Climbing round by the doorstep the only one in the street ; 
I knew where my hope had climbed to its goal and there encircled 
All that those desolate walls once held, my beloved's heart.

There in my grief she consoled me. She loved me when I loved not.
She put her hand in my hand, and set her lips to my lips. 
She told me all her pain and showed me all her trouble.
I, like a fool, scarce heard, hardly returned her kiss.

Love, thy eyes were like torches. They changed as I beheld them. 
Love, thy lips were like gems, the seal thou settest on my life.
Love, if I loved not then, behold this hour thy vengeance ; 
This is the fruit of thy love and thee, the unwise grown wise.

Weeping strangled my voice. I called out, but none answered ;
Blindly the windows gazed back at me, dumbly the door ; 
She whom I love, who loved me, looked not on my yearning, 
Gave me no more her hands to kiss, showed me no more her soul.

Therefore the Earth is dark to me, the sunlight blackness, 
Therefore I go in tears and alone, by night and day ;
Therefore I find no love in Heaven, no light, no beauty, 
A Heaven taken by storm, where none are left but the slain !