Nature

The moon sails slowly in the sky

by Vítězslav Hálek 1835–1874

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

Nature

The moon sails slowly in the sky
So calmly and so freely;
The nightingale wails in the twigs
So sweetly and so really.

Thy image stands in front of me
So calmly and so freely;
The heart in longing wakes and calls
So sweetly and so really.

A swarm of songs is circling ’round
So calmly and so freely;
And into mine eye steals a tear
So sweetly and so really.

Now gentle sleep knocks at my door
So calmly and so freely—
And I recall Thee to my mind
So sweetly and so really.

✦ ✦ ✦

Published posthumously.

MLA

Hálek, Vítězslav. “The moon sails slowly in the sky.” Translated by Joseph Štýbr. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/halek/65/.

Chicago

Hálek, Vítězslav. “The moon sails slowly in the sky.” Translated by Joseph Štýbr. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/halek/65/.

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