If you would be busy and fill your pitcher,
come, O come to my lake.
The water will cling round your feet
and babble its secret.
The shadow of the coming rain is on the sands,
and the clouds hang low upon
the blue lines of the trees
like the heavy hair above your eyebrows.
I know well the rhythm of your steps,
they are beating in my heart.
Come, O come to my lake,
if you must fill your pitcher.
If you would be idle and sit listless
and let your pitcher float on the water,
come, O come to my lake.
The grassy slope is green,
and the wild flowers beyond number.
Your thoughts will stray out of your dark eyes
like birds from their nests.
Your veil will drop to your feet.
Come, O come to my lake if you must sit idle.
If you would leave off your play
and dive in the water,
come, O come to my lake.
Let your blue mantle lie on the shore;
the blue water will cover you and hide you.
The waves will stand a-tiptoe to kiss your neck
and whisper in your ears.
Come, O come to my lake,
if you would dive in the water.
If you must be mad and leap to your death,
come, O come to my lake.
It is cool and fathomlessly deep.
It is dark like a sleep that is dreamless.
There in its depths nights and days are one,
and songs are silence.
Come, O come to my lake,
if you would plunge to your death.