I praise you, my heart! For you cause me no worry.
You purple-hued miracle! Strong, without flurry,
You do your job well, whether heavy or happy.
To ask for a respite you don't seem to hurry.

You burn without rest, but leave no smoky eddy.
Your partner is time and your rhythm is steady.
You take in the strange things of life, and the simple.
For all who would enter your welcome is ready.

I beg you, don't weaken, my heart, keep on burning –
Life's tasks uncompleted still set my soul yearning....
A woman is waiting whose lips still need kissing....
To unexplored countries my footsteps are turning.

I beg you, avoid too much worry or tension.
All night let me whisper without apprehension,
The wildest, mad words of your subtlest prompting
And, loving, know joy beyond all comprehension.

I beg you, be patient – though worth better tending –
I long to watch people who pass without ending.
I still want to wander where deep snow is lying,
And, this above all, through meadows go wending.

So, leader, lead on. We must make a good showing –
Too soon for our caravan's pace to be slowing.
I'll always have time to wrap gravecloths around me.
Let mist be my cloak on the road where we're going.

I beg you, beware, earthly wonder, of breaking –
For you are no vessel of any man's making.
I beg you, don't ring with one last note at sundown,
For you are no camel-bell, clangouring, shaking.

My fiery charger, dark-purple, resplendent,
Still bear me on far with hot passion ascendant,
Your hooves from the stones striking sparks red and golden.
Your rider is mortal, on you he's dependent.

1966