The Murmur of the Forest – Mihai Eminescu

The Murmur of the Forest by Mihai Eminescu :

On the pond bright sparks are falling,

Wavelets in the sunlight glisten;

Gazing on the woods with rapture,

Do I let my spirit capture

Drowsiness, and lie and listen…

                                                          Quails are calling.

All the silent water sleeping

Of the streams and of the rivers;

Only where the sun is shining

Thousand circles there designing

As with fright its surface shivers,

                                                         Swiftly leaping.

Pipe the birds midst woods concealing,

Which of us their language guessing?

Birds of endless kinds and races

Chirp amidst its leafy places

And what wisdom they expressing

                                                             And what feeling.

Asks the cuckoo: ,,Who has seen

Our beloved summer idol,

Beautiful beyond all praising

Through her languid lashes gazing,

Our most lovely, tender, bridal,

                                                           Forest queen?”

Bends the lime wiyh gentle care

Her sweet body to embower;

In the breeze his branches singing

Lift her in their arms upswinging,

While a hundred blossoms shower

                                                      On her hair.

Asks the brooklet as it flows

,, Where has gone my lovely lady?

She, who evening hour beguiling,

In my silver surface smiling,

Broke its mirror deep and shady

                                                       With her toes?”

I replied: ,,O forest, she

Comes no more, no more returning!

Only you, great oaks, still dreaming

Violet eyes, like flowers gleaming,

That the summer through were yearning

                                                         Just for me.”

Happy then, alone we twain,

Through the forest brush-wood striding!

Sweet enchanted tale of wonder

That the darkness broke asunder…

Dear, wherever you’d be hiding,

                                                         Come again!