O Ancient Scent.

Breathe in. And breathe in. And breathe in the blue dawn. Then let the moonstone in your stomach plummet away to the earth’s core, as the soil’s sweet energies course up to your sweet lips. Feel the breeze on your skin. Feel the weight of your limbs, your heart. There you are. You gather up what’s yours, which is nothing. You leave what is for others, which is everything. You taste the love of this room, of its little window and its distant mountains. The succour of home and the green bounty of its shadows. 

21. O Ancient Scent

O ancient scent from ancient lands,

rush through my senses once again!

A maddening flock of tricks and twits

are twangling through the air.  

These granted wishes make me glad

for joys that I have long disdained:

O ancient scent from ancient lands,

intoxicate me once again.

I gave away all my melancholy; 

through my window, framed with sunlight,

I freely contemplate the earth

and dream of blissful open skies…

O ancient scent from ancient lands!

21. O alter Duft

O alter Duft aus Märchenzeit,

Berauschest wieder meine Sinne;

Ein närrisch Heer von Schelmerein

Durchschwirrt die leichte Luft.

Ein glückhaft Wünschen macht mich froh

Nach Freuden, die ich lang verachtet:

O alter Duft aus Märchenzeit,

Berauschest wieder mich.

All meinen Unmut gab ich preis;

Aus meinem sonnumrahmten Fenster

Beschau ich frei die liebe Welt

Und träum hinaus in selge Weiten...

O alter Duft - aus Märchenzeit!