Asleep

Why did I dream, only
To wake up
To wake up?

And forget all — all of
Its beauty
Oh, the beauty!

I am
A shadow of a dream of
A shadow of a dream of
A shadow of a dream of

Why did I love, only
To lose you
To lose you?

And forget your lips on
My tear-stained cheeks
My tear-stained cheeks

You are
A shadow of a dream of
A shadow of a dream of
A shadow of a dream of

Wake up, wake up
It’s been too long
Wake up, wake up
But you’re asleep

Forever

You were
A shadow of a dream of
A shadow of a dream of
A shadow of a dream of

Nothing but falsities

Two months before I hit the road once more; only then can I write in Truth. For Society is a pond and I, am the sunken settled sand. Time has turned my heart to lead, but Patience bears the sweetest fruit. The bluebells murmur in their sleep, so does my spirit till it wakes.

Always summer

My heart smiles, for it is well. The grass is greener on this side, where the birds sing and the sun shines forever. No — where are you, my Soul? Happiness has mended your wings and away you flew, never to return.

If it could only be like this always — always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe, and Aloysius in a good temper…

Evelyn Waugh, in Brideshead Revisited (which reminds me of Maurice, save for Aloysius the teddy bear)

This is how I disappear

Ginge, blissfully ignorant of his fate

Dear me! I am one-quarter gone.
Now, I’m half gone!
I’m three-quarters gone!
Oh dear, I’m all gone.

Un chant mystérieux tombe des astres d’or

Il y a quelque chose dans l’air. Je peux sentir le vent souffle dans mes cheveux et le vois dans le frisson des arbres. Écoutes! C’est le chant d’oiseau, aussi douce que le parfum des fleurs.

Quel sensation étrange, comme les derniers jours de l’été ou la perte de l’innocence. Le monde est devenu une peinture de Constable et tout le reste, j’ai oublié.

Quand la nuit tombe, le ciel est plein des étoiles mais ce soir, la lune est enchanté. À notre ombre, elle est rouge sang. Ah, je concède — we live in a beautiful world.