I saw thee first when cherries bloomed

I saw thee first when cherries bloomed,

the petals o'er thee falling;

I heard across the flower'd stream

thy soul to my soul calling.

So fair the blooms like tinted snow

beneath the sunset lying;

they flutter'd like the butterflies,

when o'er the rapeseed flying,

when lightly, gaily flying.

And, love: we too kept holiday,

so long ago it seems,

ah, love, we too kept holiday,

so long ago it seems.