On the slope of the creek, I asked her
Where are you going hiding your flashlight with your coat ?
My house is all dark and lonesome, lend me that light !
She raised her dark eyes for a moment and looked at my face through the dusk
I have come to the creek, she said, to shine my flashlight on the animals in the water when it gets dark
It got darker, and I asked again if she would bring her light to my house
As there were no animals in the water. There was nothing living moving
She said, I'm going to shine it on the sky ; eventually it will reach a star
I watched her shine the light uselessly into the sky
In the moonless gloom of midnight I asked her why she still held the light close to her chest
My house is all dark and lonesome, I said. Lend me your light
I need it to walk home with, she said. I can't see in the dark like a cat
I watched her light get lost among the trees and into the lights of houses
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64.
On the slope of the desolate river among tall grasses I asked her, "Maiden, where do you go shading your lamp with your mantle ? My house is all dark and lonesome – lend me your light !" She raised her dark eyes for a moment and looked at my face through the dusk. "I have come to the river," she said, "to float my lamp on the stream when the daylight wanes in the west." I stood alone among tall grasses and watched the timid flame of her lamp uselessly drifting in the tide.
In the silence of gathering night I asked her, "Maiden, your lights are all lit — then where do you go with your lamp ? My house is all dark and lonesome — lend me your light." She raised her dark eyes on my face and stood for a moment doubtful. "I have come," she said at last, "to dedicate my lamp to the sky." I stood and watched her light uselessly burning in the void.
In the moonless gloom of midnight I ask her, "Maiden, what is your quest, holding the lamp near your heart ? My house is all dark and lonesome — lend me your light." She stopped for a minute and thought and gazed at my face in the dark. "I have brought my light," she said, "to join the carnival of lamps." I stood and watched her little lamp uselessly lost among lights.
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64.
Sur la berge du fleuve désolé, parmi les hautes herbes, je lui demandai : "Fille, où vas-tu ainsi, protégeant sous ton manteau la flamme de ta lampe ? Ma maison est obscure et déserte ; — prête-moi ta lumière." Un instant elle leva sur moi ses yeux sombres et me dévisagea dans le crépuscule. "Je suis venue vers le fleuve, m'a-t-elle dit, pour confier ma lampe au courant, quand la dernière lueur du couchant s'éteindra." Et je restai seul parmi les hautes herbes, contemplant cette faible flamme inutile qui s'enfuyait à la dérive.
Dans le silence de l'ombre accrue, je lui demandai : "Fille, toutes vos lampes sont allumées — dis-moi donc où tu vas avec la tienne ? Ma maison est obscure et déserte — prête-moi ta lumière." Elle leva sur moi ses yeux sombres et resta hésitante un instant. "Je suis venue, dit-elle enfin, pour dédier ma lampe au ciel." Et je restai là, contemplant cette flamme inutile se consumer dans le désert.
Dans les ténèbres d'un minuit sans lune je lui demandai : "Fille, que cherches-tu donc, en tenant ainsi ta lampe contre ton coeur ? Ma maison est obscure et déserte — prête-moi ta lumière." Un instant elle s'arrêta et, pensivement, me dévisagea dans le noir. "J'ai apporté cette lumière, dit-elle, pour me mêler au carnaval des lampes." Et je restai là à contempler la petite lampe perdue parmi les feux.
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