Orientale I: i spoke to thee

i spoke to thee

with a smile and thou didst not

answer

thy mouth is as

a chord of crimson music

Come hither

O thou, is life not a smile?

i spoke to thee with

a song and thou

didst not listen

thine eyes are as a vase

of divine silence

Come hither

O thou, is life not a song?

i spoke

to thee with a soul and

thou didst not wonder

thy face is as a dream locked

in white fragrance

Come hither

O thou, is life not love?

i speak to

thee with a sword

and thou art silent

thy breast is as a tomb

softer than flowers

Come hither

O thou, is love not death?