An Anthology of Czechoslovak Literature/Pure Morning

For other English-language translations of this work, see Pure Morning.

Pure Morning

WHEN into the garden at morning-tide we entered weary with many dreams,
The whole of earth, like to our souls, we saw abloom in fiery gleams;
And we to winds, to waters, plants, birds, bees a question sent:
What secret one this bygone night along our garden went?

The sand, a golden changeling, lured where’er the sacred marks were shed
The waters murmured healingly, as set astir by angel tread,
Each breath had strength of life, as though for many glowing days,
And awe of new-engendered things was seen in every gaze.

Our grievous secrets’ burden we as will of thine did not resist,
A missive that by humble lips, ere rending of the seal, is kissed;
E’en at our gates the ambushed foe whom slumber overcame
As thine o’erwearied messenger we greeted with acclaim.

In havoc-ridden solitudes, that by the demon sprites are scoured,
As though it were a lily-bed, our cravings’ tender garden flowered,
And women who most fervid were, most comely and most sweet,
As though our stainless sisters in their radiance we could greet.
The Hands (1901)

This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.

Original:

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1930.

The longest-living author of this work died in 1929, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 95 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse

Translation:

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1930.

The longest-living author of this work died in 1970, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 54 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse