# An Anthology of Modern Bohemian Poetry/Songs of Evening

The poem marked as number II is in fact number I in the Czech original.
​Vítěslav Hálek (1835—1874).
SONGS OF EVENING (1859)
II.
Springtime is waited from afar, With longing all is teeming; And all is pressing to the sun, That long has been a-dreaming.
From out its nest the finch, and from The hut the children speed; The many-coloured blossoms waft Sweet fragrance on the mead.
The leaf is bursting from the twig, The birds are gaily singing; And from the youthful breast and heart The buds of love are springing.
III.
The trees are rustling softly; through The leaves scarce moves a breeze; The birds in blissful dreams repose, So silent and at ease.
Many a star in heaven appears, Around it is so free; But in my bosom there is grief, In my heart is misery.
Upon the petals of the flowers The dew in splendour lies; O God, and even so the dew Wells up into my eyes.
IV.
Now all is sleeping in the world, Save the heart within my breast; God knows, it is the heart alone That ne'er lies down to rest.
Upon God's earth, all now is mute, But the heart its song desires; God knows, it is the heart alone That never, never tires.
Thought is by slumber overcome, Night changes place with day; The heart keeps watch, aye in the breast, And there o'er love holds sway.
XI.
Like to a spreading tree am I, Decked for a festive day; Come hither to the shade I spread, Thou lovely rose of May.
Here every leaf in fragrance breathes, The bees go humming by; The birds fly in the evening here, They are my thoughts that fly.
They fly away, far, far away, Like children from their home; But if thou com’st to tarry nigh, No longer will they roam.
XIII.
Thou art still but a flower-bud, From out the earth scarce born, And yet already roses fair Thy countenance adorn.
These roses are so beautiful, Their fragrance so divine, My soul is filled with love for them, My heart for them doth pine.
XXI.
The stars up yonder in the sky Are mighty worlds; and fain Would I but know what kind they are The beings they contain.
And whether there is someone there Who gazes from above; And if 'tis so, if he like me Is singing songs of love.
XXIV.
The moon is up amidst the stars, The woods are ﬁlled with sound; O'er the wide world it is as if God scattered love around.
These early leaves with many a voice Exchange a converse sweet; It is as if the amorous world In a single kiss did meet.
And yet I know, in solitude Is many a heart oppressed, And many a youthful face doth find From bitter tears no rest.
LVI.
O God, within this soul of mine, Each wish is lulled to sleep; This only do I crave of thee, That I my song may keep.
If Thou my gift of song would'st take, No longer would I live, Nor happy be, if for my song Thou happiness would'st give.
LXIV.
The pale moon in the skies doth rest, A song hath risen in my breast.
The birds have come and did relate That our love hath been so great.
That these buds by springtime borne A bridal robe would fain adorn.
That this ivy forms a crown, Upon thy head to thy renown.
That bedecked with charms untold, Thee for evermore I hold.
This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.