Fireflies 1 - 8 [German translation]

1

My fancies are fireflies, —

Specks of living light

twinkling in the dark.

2

The voice of wayside pansies,

that do not attract the careless glance,

murmurs in these desultory lines.

3

In the drowsy dark caves of the mind

dreams build their nest with fragments

dropped from day's caravan.

4

Spring scatters the petals of flowers

that are not for the fruits of the future,

but for the moment's whim.

5

Joy freed from the bond of earth's slumber

rushes into numberless leaves,

and dances in the air for a day.

6

My words that are slight

my lightly dance upon time's waves

when my works heavy with import have gone down.

7

Mind's underground moths

grow filmy wings

and take a farewell flight

in the sunset sky.

8

The butterfly counts not months but moments,

and has time enough.