From times of old you've lived among the sundered stone,
But never thro' the ages did you feel alone.
To you the mountains gave abundance of our land.
They showed you shining worlds, pressed gifts into your
hand.
Conversing with the eagles, ranging high and far,
You held upon your palm a new and splendid star.
You sang like mountain streams that thro' the fissures
broke.
Composing flowing songs in tongues the rivers spoke.
And, monarch-like, you made the mountain tops your seat,
While flowers, herbs and leaves wove carpets for your feet.
But envy filled your heart for seething springs that flow
Heated by some lightning banished down below.
You envied granite slopes, that rising upward, share
With ease the heavy burden Fate has made man bear.
You envied haughty thunder making mountains ring,
Proclaiming to all men the proud, approaching Spring.
You envied birds you saw above the mountains sweep,
You even envied glow-worms, foliar lamps that creep,
And envied secret ways in mountains where they start
Their journey to explore the cosmic spaces' heart.
But now hear what the mountain to Mankind has to say:
"My ancient rocks seemed stronger than you in every way,
How did you shatter fetters which seemed to bind you fast
With chains of ancient mountains to centuries long past?
By blasts my sleep is shattered. Your victories, my
defeats, Make me apprehensive of new, outstanding feats. You boldly penetrated deep within the Earth. You shake ravines and ranges that witnessed Mankind's birth. Astronomer and astronaut, blasting off in flight,
You make the raging thunderstorm quake as if in fright.
To link the Earth and Moon above my peaks you soar.
Behold, Earth's little sister feels alone no more!
Your victories serve to make the world much brighter now—
AH honour to you, Man, to you my head I bow!"