European Elegies/Autumn (2)/Autumn song

96.AUTUMN SONG


Flame forth, pale hidden moon
Behind the dark clouds shining
And lighting them with silver lining!
For all the river-rushes breathe a plaintive tune
And night-winds are repining.

Another night in autumn haunts my heart:
Across the waves is bound
A belt of golden beams that dart
From the bright moon; along the languid stream,
The wind soothes sedges into slumber sound;
And swaying rushes seem
To make faint hidden harp-strings fitfully resound;
Low lisper
A-whisper,
The wind croons to the drowsy reeds around.

Flame forth, pale hidden moon
Behind the dark clouds shining
And lighting them with silver lining!
For all the river-rushes breathe a plaintive tune
And night-winds are repining.


From the Finnish of Yrjö Weijola.