Anastasius Grün: “Salutation of the Sea”
Excerpt, “Translations From The German Poets.” Edward Stanhope Pearson. 1879..
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Salutation of the Sea
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Measureless, serene, unending,
Still, but ne’er from boding free
Li’st thou there thy breadth extending
Aged, solemn, boundless Sea!
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Say, in tears should be my greeting
Such as well from mourners’ eyes,
When around the grave they’re meeting
One who cold and lifeless lies?
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For a churchyard vast and stilly
One capacious vault thou art,
Hidest feelingless and chilly
Many a hope and many a heart.
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Not one cross, one gravestone yonder
Marks the spot where buried lie
Thousands – on the strand there wander
Those whose tears are never dry.
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Would’st thou have me joyous greeting
Offer, as from him would rise
Whose first glance a garden meeting
Throws him into glad surprise?
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For a garden without measure,
And a wealthy field thou art,
Noble buds, and costly treasure
Lie within thy crystal heart.
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As a lawn with sunshine flooded
Shows thy surface green and still,
Coral groves with pearl-beds studded
Such the flowers thy depths which fill.
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As in gardens wand’rers straying,
Ships across the ocean go
Treasure seeking and conveying,
Meeting, passing to and fro.
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Should I weeping, should I shouting,
Ocean to thee raise my voice?
Idle question, useless doubting –
After all I have no choice.
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But as highest joy in weeping
Riseth still to thankful eyes,
So the grateful dewdrops steeping
Trees at dawn and sunset rise.
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When the Lord of all I’m meeting
And mine eyes in tears upturn,
So in tears once more I’m greeting
Fatherland with thoughts that burn.
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Weeping I my arms extended
When I saw my lov’d one near,
Weeping on the heights I bended
When I saw thee first appear.
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