Just as a painter may sometimes grab
the nearest scrap for their urgent stroke,
so a mirror may sometimes catch
the sweet authentic smiles of girls
the nearest scrap for their urgent stroke,
so a mirror may sometimes catch
the sweet authentic smiles of girls
as they step out into the morning, alone,
or into the glow of evening lights.
And of the breathing life of their faces,
later, only a shadow remains.
or into the glow of evening lights.
And of the breathing life of their faces,
later, only a shadow remains.
What have eyes in the afterglow
of dying embers ever discerned
but ashes of life forever lost?
of dying embers ever discerned
but ashes of life forever lost?
Of the Earth, who can count the losses?
Only they who, with tunes of praise,
sing the heart, born into the whole.
sing the heart, born into the whole.
Sonnet 2 in Sonnets to Orpheus, second series
