In the morning I cast my net into the sea.
I dragged up from the dark abyss things of strange aspect
and strange beauty -- some shone like a smile,
some glistened like tears, and some were flushed
like the cheeks of a bride.
When with the day's burden I went home, my love was sitting
in the garden idly tearing the leaves of a flower.
I hesitated for a moment, and then placed at her feet
all that I had dragged up, and stood silent.
She glanced at them and said, "What strange things are these?
I know not of what use they are!"
I bowed my head in shame and thought, "I have not fought
for these, I did not buy them in the market;
they are not fit gifts for her."
Then the whole night through I flung them
one by one into the street.
In the morning travellers came; they picked them up
and carried them into far countries.