“Oh, stay, stay here with me!
I hold such love for thee!
All the dreams you hide inside—
only I can hear their plea.
In the shadow’s deepening veil,
you resemble a silent flame—
like a siren with gentle eyes,
watching deep waters, untamed.
And the waves, how loud they roar,
how the tall grass whispers low—
I will make you softly hear
a herd of deer as they go.
I will watch you, calm of voice,
singing like you’re under a spell,
while your bare foot gently dips
in the shining water’s swell.
As you gaze at the full moon,
lightning flashing over streams,
in a second you see centuries,
in a grain you feel all dreams.”
So the forest softly spoke,
shaking domes of leaves above,
whistling when it called me close,
and I ran out, filled with love.
But now if I returned again,
I could not feel the same as then…
Oh, where are you, youth of mine—
with the forest and all you contained?
