Questions

By the sea, by the desert midnight sea,
Stands a youth.
His heart full of anguish, his head full of doubt.
And with sullen lips he questions the waves : —

" Oh, solve to me the Riddle of Life,
The painful primordial riddle,
Which already has racked so many heads,
Heads in hieroglyphic caps,
Heads in turbans and black berrets,
Heads in wigs, and myriad other
Poor perspiring human heads ;
What is the meaning of Man ?

Whence comes he ? Whither goes he ?
Who dwells there above in the golden stars ? "

The waves murmur their everlasting murmur,
The wind sweeps, the clouds scud,
The stars glitter indifferent and cold,
And a fool awaits an answer.