Nature

So many, many things there are

by Vítězslav Hálek 1835–1874

Translated by Joseph Štýbr (1920) · From Evening Songs (Večerní písně), trans. Štýbr (1920)

Nature

So many, many things there are
To which the keys are lacking;
Deep silence answers all man’s knocks
And foils his undertaking.

Thou human heart! There sorrows howl
As wolves, by hunger driven,
And yet that same heart, oh, my God!
To love alone is given.

’Tis capable of so much love
That man’s wit may be failing,
And he may as the lonely dove
In vain roam, ever wailing.

MLA

Hálek, Vítězslav. “So many, many things there are.” Translated by Joseph Štýbr. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/halek/30/.

Chicago

Hálek, Vítězslav. “So many, many things there are.” Translated by Joseph Štýbr. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/halek/30/.

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