Luceafãrul
A fost odatã ca-n povesti,
A fost ca niciodatã,
Din rude mãri împãrãtesti,
O prea frumoasã fatã.
Si era una la pãrinti
Si mîndrã-n toate cele,
Cum e Fecioara între sfinti
Si luna între stele.
Din umbra falnicelor bolti
Ea pasul si-l îndreaptã
Lîngã fereastrã, unde-n colt
Luceafãrul asteaptã.
Privea în zare cum pe mãri
Rãsare si strãluce,
Pe miscãtoarele cãrãri
Corãbii negre duce.
îl vede azi, îl vede mîni,
Astfel dorinta-i gata;
El iar, privind de sãptãmîni,
îi cade dragã fatã.
Cum ea pe coate-si rãzima
Visînd ale ei tîmple
De dorul lui si inima
Si sufletu-i se împle.
Si cît de viu s-aprinde el
în orisicare sarã,
Spre umbra negrului castel
Cînd ea o sã-i aparã. *
Si pas cu pas pe urma ei
Alunecã-n odaie,
Tesînd cu recile-i scîntei
O mreajã de vãpaie.
Si cînd în pat se-ntinde drept
Copila sã se culce,
I-atinge mîinile pe piept,
I-nchide geana dulce;
Si din oglindã luminis
Pe trupu-i se revarsã,
Pe ochii mari, bãtînd închisi
Pe fata ei întoarsã.
Ea îl privea cu un surîs,
El tremura-n oglindã,
Cãci o urma adînc în vis
De suflet sã se prindã.
Iar ea vorbind cu el în somn,
Oftînd din greu suspinã:
- "O, dulce-al noptii mele domn,
De ce nu vii tu? Vinã!
Cobori în jos, luceafãr blînd,
Alunecînd pe-o razã,
Pãtrunde-n casã si în gînd
Si viata-mi lumineazã!"
El asculta tremurãtor,
Se aprindea mai tare
Si s-arunca fulgerator,
Se cufunda în mare;
Si apã unde-au fost cãzut
în cercuri se roteste,
Si din adînc necunoscut
Un mîndru tînãr creste.
Usor el trece ca pe prag
Pe marginea ferestei
Si tine-n mînã un toiag
încununat cu trestii.
Pãrea un tînãr voievod
Cu pãr de aur moale,
Un vînãt giulgi se-ncheie nod
Pe umerele goale.
Iar umbra fetei strãvezii
E albã ca de cearã -
Un mort frumos cu ochii vii
Ce scînteie-n afarã.
- "Din sfera mea venii cu greu
Ca sã-ti urmez chemarea,
Iar cerul este tatãl meu
Si muma-mea e marea.
Cã în cãmara ta sã vin,
Sã te privesc de-aproape,
Am coborit cu-al meu senin
Si m-am nãscut din ape.
O, vin'! odorul meu nespus,
Si lumea ta o lasã;
Eu sunt luceafãrul de sus,
Iar tu sã-mi fii mireasã.
Colo-n pãlate de mãrgean
Te-oi duce veacuri multe,
Si toatã lumea-n ocean
De tine o s-asculte."
- "O, esti frumos, cum numa-n vis
Un înger se aratã,
Darã pe calea ce-ai deschis
N-oi merge niciodatã;
Strãin la vorbã si la port,
Lucesti fãrã de viatã,
Cãci eu sunt vie, tu esti mort,
Si ochiul tãu mã-ngheatã."
*
Trecu o zi, trecurã trei
Si iarãsi, noaptea, vine
Luceafãrul deasupra ei
Cu razele-i senine.
Ea trebui de el în somn
Aminte sã-si aducã
Si dor de-al valurilor domn
De inim-o apucã:
- "Cobori în jos, luceafãr blînd,
Alunecînd pe-o razã,
Pãtrunde-n casã si în gînd
Si viata-mi lumineazã!"
Cum el din cer o auzi,
Se stinse cu durere,
Iar ceru-ncepe a roti
în locul unde piere;
In aer rumene vãpãi
Se-ntind pe lumea-ntreagã,
Si din a chaosului vãi
Un mîndru chip se-ncheagã;
Pe negre vitele-i de pãr
Coroana-i arde pare,
Venea plutind în adevãr
Scãldat în foc de soare.
Din negru giulgi se desfãsor
Marmore ele brate,
El vine trist si gînditor
Si palid e la fatã;
Dar ochii mari si minunati
Lucesc adînc himeric,
Ca douã patimi fãrã sat
Si pline de-ntuneric.
- "Din sfera mea venii cu greu
Ca sã te-ascult s-acuma,
Si soarele e tatãl meu,
Iar noaptea-mi este muma;
O, vin', odorul meu nespus,
Si lumea ta o lasã;
Eu sunt luceafãrul de sus,
Iar tu sã-mi fii mireasã.
O, vin', în pãrul tãu bãlai
S-anin cununi de stele,
Pe-a mele ceruri sã rãsai
Mai mîndrã decît ele."
- "O, esti frumos cum numã-n vis
Un demon se aratã,
Darã pe calea ce-ai deschis
N-oi merge niciodatã!
Mã dor de crudul tãu amor
A pieptului meu coarde,
Si ochii mari si grei mã dor,
Privirea ta mã arde."
- "Dar cum ai vrea sã mã cobor?
Au nu-ntelegi tu oare,
Cum cã eu sunt nemuritor,
Si tu esti muritoare?"
- "Nu caut vorbe pe ales,
Nici stiu cum as începe -
Desi vorbesti pe înteles,
Eu nu te pot pricepe;
Dar dacã vrei cu crezãmînt
Sã te-ndrãgesc pe tine,
Tu te coboarã pe pãmînt,
Fii muritor ca mine."
- "Tu-mi cei chiar nemurirea mea
în schimb pe-o sãrutare,
Dar voi sã stii asemenea
Cît te iubesc de tare;
Da, mã voi naste din pãcat,
Primind o altã lege;
Cu vecinicia sunt legat,
Ci voi sã mã dezlege."
Si se tot duce... S-a tot dus.
De dragu-unei copile,
S-a rupt din locul lui de sus,
Pierind mai multe zile.
*
In vremea asta Cãtãlin,
Viclean copil de casã,
Ce împle cupele cu vin
Mesenilor la masã,
Un paj ce poartã pas cu pas
A-mpãrãtesii rochii,
Bãiat din flori si de pripas,
Dar îndrãznet cu ochii,
Cu obrãjei ca doi bujori
De rumeni, batã-i vina,
Se furiseazã pînditor
Privind la Cãtãlina.
Dar ce frumoasã se fãcu
Si mîndrã, arz-o focul;
Ei Cãtãlin, acu-i acu
Ca sã-ti încerci norocul.
Si-n treacãt o cuprinse lin
într-un ungher degrabã.
- "Da' ce vrei, mãri Cãtãlin?
Ia du-t' de-ti vezi de treabã."
- "Ce voi? As vrea sã nu mai stai
Pe gînduri totdeuna,
Sã rîzi mai bine si sã-mi dai
O gurã, numai una."
- "Dar nici nu stiu mãcar ce-mi ceri,
Dã-mi pace, fugi departe -
O, de luceafãrul din cer
M-a prins un dor de moarte."
- "Dacã nu stii, ti-as arãta
Din bob în bob amorul,
Ci numai nu te mînia,
Ci stai cu binisorul.
Cum vînãtoru-ntinde-n crîng
La pãsãrele latul,
Cînd ti-oi întinde bratul stîng
Sã mã cuprinzi cu bratul;
Si ochii tãi nemiscãtori
Sub ochii mei rãmîie...
De te înalt de subtiori
Te-naltã din cãlcîie;
Cînd fata mea se pleacã-n jos,
în sus rãmîi cu fatã,
Sã ne privim nesãtios
Si dulce toatã viata;
Si ca sã-ti fie pe deplin
Iubirea cunoscutã,
Cînd sãrutîndu-te mã-nclin,
Tu iarãsi mã sãrutã."
Ea-l asculta pe copilas
Uimitã si distrasã,
Si rusinos si drãgãlas,
Mai nu vrea, mai se lasã,
Si-i zise-ncet: - "încã de mic
Te cunosteam pe tine,
Si guraliv si de nimic,
Te-ai potrivi cu mine...
Dar un luceafãr, rãsãrit
Din linistea uitãrii,
Dã orizon nemãrginit
Singurãtãtii mãrii;
Si tainic genele le plec,
Cãci mi le împle plînsul
Cînd ale apei valuri trec
Cãlãtorind spre dînsul;
Luceste c-un amor nespus,
Durerea sã-mi alunge,
Dar se înaltã tot mai sus,
Ca sã nu-l pot ajunge.
Pãtrunde trist cu raze reci
Din lumea ce-l desparte...
în veci îl voi iubi si-n veci
Va rãmînea departe...
De-aceea zilele îmi sunt
Pustii ca niste stepe,
Dar noptile-s de-un farmec sfînt
Ce-l nu mai pot pricepe."
- "Tu esti copilã, asta e...
Hai s-om fugi în lume,
Doar ni s-or pierde urmele
Si nu ne-or sti de nume.
Cãci amîndoi vom fi cuminti,
Vom fi voiosi si teferi,
Vei pierde dorul de pãrinti
Si visul de luceferi."
*
Porni luceafãrul. Cresteau
In cer a lui aripe,
Si cãi de mii de ani treceau
în tot atîtea clipe.
Un cer de stele dedesupt,
Deasupra-i cer de stele -
Pãrea un fulger nentrerupt
Rãtãcitor prin ele.
Si din a chaosului vãi,
Jur împrejur de sine,
Vedea, cã-n ziua cea dentîi,
Cum izvorau lumine;
Cum izvorînd îl înconjor
Ca niste mãri, de-a-notul...
El zboarã, gînd purtat de dor,
Pîn' piere totul, totul;
Cãci unde-ajunge nu-i hotar,
Nici ochi spre a cunoaste,
Si vremea-ncearcã în zadar
Din goluri a se naste.
Nu e nimic si totusi e
O sete care-l soarbe,
E un adînc asemene
Uitãrii celei oarbe.
- "De greul negrei vecinicii,
Pãrinte, mã dezleagã
Si lãudat pe veci sã fii
Pe-a lumii scarã-ntreagã;
O, cere-mi, Doamne, orice pret,
Dar dã-mi o altã soarte,
Cãci tu izvor esti de vieti
Si dãtãtor de moarte;
Reia-mi al nemuririi nimb
Si focul din privire,
Si pentru toate dã-mi în schimb
O orã de iubire...
Din chaos, Doamne,-am apãrut
Si m-as întoarce-n chaos...
Si din repaos m-am nãscut.
Mi-e sete de repaos."
- "Hyperion, ce din genuni
Rãsai c-o-ntreagã lume,
Nu cere semne si minuni
Care n-au chip si nume;
Tu vrei un om sã te socoti,
Cu ei sã te asameni?
Dar piarã oamenii cu toti,
S-ar naste iarãsi oameni.
Ei numai doar dureazã-n vînt
Deserte idealuri -
Cînd valuri aflã un mormînt,
Rãsar în urmã valuri;
Ei doar au stele cu noroc
Si prigoniri de soarte,
Noi nu avem nici timp, nici loc,
Si nu cunoastem moarte.
Din sînul vecinicului ieri
Trãieste azi ce moare,
Un soare de s-ar stinge-n cer
S-aprinde iarãsi soare;
Pãrînd pe veci a rãsãri,
Din urmã moartea-l paste,
Cãci toti se nasc spre a muri
Si mor spre a se naste.
Iar tu, Hyperion, rãmîi
Oriunde ai apune...
Cere-mi cuvîntul meu dentîi -
Sã-ti dau întelepciune?
Vrei sã dau glas acelei guri,
Cã dup-a ei cîntare
Sã se ia muntii cu pãduri
Si insulele-n mare?
Vrei poate-n faptã sã arãti
Dreptate si tãrie?
Ti-as da pãmîntul în bucãti
Sã-l faci împãrãtie.
îti dau catarg lîngã catarg,
Ostiri spre a strãbate
Pãmîntu-n lung si marea-n larg,
Dar moartea nu se poate...
Si pentru cine vrei sã mori?
întoarce-te, te-ndreaptã
Spre-acel pãmînt rãtãcitor
Si vezi ce te asteaptã."
*
în locul lui menit din cer
Hyperion se-ntoarse
Si, cã si-n ziua cea de ieri,
Lumina si-o revarsã.
Cãci este sara-n asfintit
Si noaptea o sã-nceapã;
Rãsare luna linistit
Si tremurînd din apã.
Si împle cu-ale ei scîntei
Cãrãrile din crînguri.
Sub sirul lung de mîndri tei
Sedeau doi tineri singuri:
- "O, lasã-mi capul meu pe sîn,
Iubito, sã se culce
Sub raza ochiului senin
Si negrãit de dulce;
Cu farmecul luminii reci
Gîndirile strãbate-mi,
Revarsã liniste de veci
Pe noaptea mea de patimi.
Si de asupra mea rãmîi
Durerea mea de-o curmã,
Cãci esti iubirea mea dentîi
Si visul meu din urmã."
Hyperion vedea de sus
Uimirea-n a lor fatã;
Abia un brat pe gît i-a pus
Si ea l-a prins în brate...
Miroase florile-argintii
Si cad, o dulce ploaie,
Pe crestetele-a doi copii
Cu plete lungi, bãlaie.
Ea, îmbãtatã de amor,
Ridicã ochii. Vede
Luceafãrul. Si-ncetisor
Dorintele-i încrede:
- "Cobori în jos, luceafãr blînd,
Alunecînd pe-o razã,
Pãtrunde-n codru si în gînd,
Norocu-mi lumineazã!"
El tremurã ca alte dãti
în codri si pe dealuri,
Cãlãuzînd singurãtãti
De miscãtoare valuri;
Dar nu mai cade ca-n trecut
In mãri din tot înaltul:
- "Ce-ti pasã tie, chip de lut,
Dac-oi fi eu sau altul?
Trãind în cercul vostru strîmt
Norocul vã petrece,
Ci eu în lumea mea mã sîmt
Nemuritor si rece."
| The Evening Star
Once upon a time, tales told,
As never been portrayed,
There was, of pure royal blood,
A most beautiful maid.
She was her parents’ only child
Bright as the sun in June,
Like Virgin Mary among saints
And among stars, the moon.
Out of the shadow of the stately vault
Her step now she directs
Near the window, where in sight
The Evening Star awaits.
Off on the skyline, cross the seas
She saw him, shining bright,
Leading the lightless sailing ships
Throughout the murky night.
She daily witnessed his ascend,
Her heart a gentle purr;
And him, watching for weeks on end,
In love would fall with her.
Daydreaming head on elbows propped
As if her mind was stole
Longing for him could not be stopped
Love filled her, heart and soul.
And oh, how brightly lit’s his halo
Diffusing glowing spears,
Upon the pitch-dark castle’s shadow
To him when she appears. *
And treading lightly in her footmarks
He’s gliding in her chamber,
Weaving around with icy sparks
A glowing web of amber.
And when her head on pillow lands
Towards her dreams to dash,
He glides his light along her hands,
Caresses her eyelash;
And from the mirror, the light flies
Spilling upon her shape,
On closed, yet fluttering big eyes
Her face in shadows drape.
She’d greet him faintly with a smile,
He’d shiver in the mirror,
For in her dreams he’d walk a mile
To her soul to be nearer.
She’d talk to him as she slept tight,
Through sighs and dreamy slum:
- "Oh, dear sweet prince of the night,
Why don’t you come? Just come!
Descend to me, Eve Star, so kind
Glide down on a lights’ beam,
Come in my house and in my mind
And make my life a dream!”
To her, with tremors he would listen,
Ignite and burst in motion
Jump up and down, take flight, and then
Sink deep into the ocean;
The water in that very spot
In circles swirls and surges,
And out of the deeply dark ‘naught
A fine young lad emerges.
As o’er a threshold he took step
Upon her windowsill
Holding in his hand a staff
Adorned in reedy twill.
He looked like a young prince, somewhat
Hair soft, of golden ambers,
A purple shroud tied with a knot
Upon his barren shoulders.
The shade of his pellucid face
Was waxy white, like candle -
A handsome dead man with live eyes
That spark and none can handle.
- "Out of my sphere here I fly
To answer to thy summ*,
My dear father is the sky
The sea my lovely mum.
Down to thy chambers to descend,
And gaze upon thy nearer,
Serenely I had to transcend
And born from waters I appear.
Oh, come! Mine dear priceless treasure,
And leave thy world aside;
For I am Evening Star from heaven,
And thou shall be my bride.
Down there, in the coral castles
We’d live forever more,
And everybody in the oceans
Would kneel before thy door."
- "Oh, dear prince, handsome you are
As angels in dreams show,
Yet with your plan to take me far
I’ll never rightly go;
Your garb and speech I do not understand,
You shine, yet don’t have heart,
For I’m alive and you are rightly dead,
And your eyes chill my heart."
*
A day went by, then other three
And night would always come
Just as before, from up above her he
Translucent rays would shine.
Asleep, when dreams would often come
The waves-prince she’d recall
A hankering for him would strum
And clinch to her young soul:
- " Descend to me, Eve Star, so kind
Glide down on a lights’ beam,
Come in my house and in my mind
And make my life a dream!”
As he would hear her from up high,
He’d fade in drastic pain,
And heavens would spin as he’d die
Never to shine again;
Yet in the air, flames of red
Would spread across the realm,
And from the chaos, a pretty head
Emerges at the helm;
On shiny hair, raven-black
His crown seems to be burning,
Floating, and happy to be back
Among the sun’s flames swimming.
Emerging from behind black shroud
Impressive marble arms,
Sullen he comes, with his head bowed
And face devoid of charms;
Yet his big eyes in all their splendor
Shine deep and quite chimeric,
As two young lovers, rather tender
And darkly, deep, poetic.
- "Out of my sphere here I come
To answer to thy summ*,
My dear father is the sun
The night my lovely mum.
Oh, come! My dear priceless treasure,
And leave thy world aside;
For I am Evening Star from heaven,
And thou shall be my bride.
Oh, come, and in thy golden hair
I’ll knit a wreath of stars,
Among the lights ye’d be most fair
They’d look like flies in jars."
- "Oh, dear prince, handsome you are
As demons in dreams show,
Yet with your plan to take me far
I’ll never rightly go;
Though cruel, I do miss your love
My chest is deeply hurting,
Weighty big eyes are weary of,
My soul your gaze is burning."
- "Thou think that up from heavens I can part?
Perhaps I’d been naught clear,
I am immortal, whilst thou art,
Mere mortal maid, mine dear?"
- "I hate big words, and I don’t know,
How else to plead with you -
And though your discourse I follow,
I don’t understand you;
If you believe my love is worth
More than a priceless gem,
Come down to this temporal earth,
Be mortal as I am."
- "Thou ask I’d cede mine immortality
Instead one kiss of thine,
But know as well I second thee,
For thy true love I pine;
Yes, I shall be reborn from sin,
Receive another sanction;
Another life I shall begin,
Tied to a different junction."
And off he went... He went all out.
Lost in a love-flame craze,
From up in heavens he bailed out,
Missing for many days.
*
In the meantime, Cãtãlin,
A house-boy, sly and crafty,
Who fills the cups with wine and gin
For diners to be happy,
A page, bearing the queen’s dress train
Behind her, every step,
A fatherless stray, an orphan,
With eyes chuck-full of pep,
With tender cheeks, peony red
Rosy and smooth as china,
He sneaks up with a flair unsaid
Gazing at Cãtãlina.
How beautiful she grew – he thinks
A flower, just to pluck;
Eh, Cãtãlin, right now this is
Your chance to try your luck.
In passing, around her he’d spin
Pretending sweet horseplay.
- "What is it with you, Cãtãlin?
Leave me alone and go away."
- "What’s with me? No, what’s with you?
You’re lost in thoughts, no fun,
So, laugh more often, and I beg, please do
Give me a kiss, just one."
- "Just spare me your silly sermons,
Just leave me, go away -
For dearest Eve Star up in heavens
I’m longing every day."
- "If you don’t know, I’d gladly show you
All about love’s balm,
But simmer down, let’s not argue,
Just listen and be calm.
Just as the hunter throws the net
That many birds would harm,
When my left hand on you I set
Embrace me with your arm;
And your big eyes, quiet and still
With mine a pact would seal...
If on your waist I grab, you will
Push up high on your heel;
When I bend down my face to you,
You should look up at me,
We’d glance each other sweet and true
Forever, full of glee;
And so that you have about love
A knowledge that is true,
I’ll lean and kiss you from above,
Please, tender kiss me too."
She’d listen still, without refute
Dumbfounded and distracted,
Him shameful, yes, but rather cute,
The yes and no she weighted,
“Since a wee lad – her voice appall -
I’ve known you bit by bit,
And glib, and talkative and small,
You’d be a decent fit...
Yet, from oblivion’s tranquil
An Evening Star came out,
Through infinite horizons now to spill
The oceans’ lonely clout;
And secretly I bow my lashes,
‘Cause tears fill my eyes
When towards him the water splashes
Just as the small wave dies;
He shines with an unspoken love,
My sorrow he could leach,
But rises higher, high above
So I’ll could never reach.
Bursting in from his dreamland
Through sad, cold rays of star...
Forever I will love him and
Forever he’ll be far...
That’s why my days are simply now
Barren as the steppe,
Yet saintly charms lift my eyebrow
When night’s at my doorstep."
- "You are naive, my little girl...
Let’s run away together,
Aimlessly travel far and twirl
Like in the wind a feather.
A new life we will both begin,
Joyful and merry, yet afar,
You’ll lose the longing for your kin,
The dreams about Eve Star."
*
He took to flight, the Evening Star
His wings, on high, grew distant,
And though he traveled light-years far
It only seemed an instant.
A star-filled sky to gaze beneath,
Above a star-filled sky -
An endless thunderbolt he seemed
Lost, as he wondered by.
And from the chaos’ dark abyss,
Around him like a cone,
He’d see, as in Genesis’ bliss,
How light was being born;
Like waters drowning him entire
As lights would swarm upon...
He flies, now carried by desire,
Until he’s gone, all gone;
For there’s no boundary where he goes,
Nor eye who’d understand,
And from that void Time never grows
A life that can withstand.
There is nothing, yet there is
A thirst he can not shun,
Deep, dark, and painful it all seems
Like blind oblivion.
- "From this dark eternal pain,
Father, please release me
For breaking me out of this chain
Praised by the world you’ll be;
Name thy steep price, oh, dear God,
But let me choose mine fate,
Thou have that power in one nod
That giveth life and death;
My immortality take back
The eyes with fire power,
And in exchange give me the knack
To love but for one hour...
And to the chaos that I came from
I would return, my Father...
But with my heart being so torn.
It seems like such a bother."
- "Hyperion, begot from magic touch
And meant to shine with grace,
Don’t ask for miracles or such
That have no name nor face;
Thou wanthts as human to be counted,
To replicate their kin?
But if the human race is blasted,
Humans wouldst born agin.
They only last as gusts of wind
Ideals, void and blind -
When to the grave the waves rescind,
More waves come from behind;
They only have their lucky stars
And preconceived blind fate,
For us, time, places, leave no scars,
And death we don’t cognate.
From yesterday’s eternal ply
Death would fight in vain,
And if a sun in heaven’d die
A sun wilt rise again;
Forever seeming life to spry,
Demise can’t flee or scorn,
For all are born only to die
And die to be reborn.
Yet you, Hyperion, remain
Wherever thou seth down...
For mine advice ask thee again -
Wisdom without a frown?
That certain voice thee wish to life,
And set all things in motion
Mountains and forests to be strife
And islands sink in ocean?
Perhaps thee wish to proudly show
Righteousness and might?
The world to you I would bestow
To make a kingdom site.
Thousands of ships I’d give to thee,
Armies on them I’d plant
To capture land and conquer sea,
But death I can not grant...
For whom thou wish mortal to be?
And is it truly worth?
Just go and see what’s there for thee
On that wondering earth."
*
Assuming his place in the sky
Hyperion returned
And as in days past he’d let fly,
A light that brightly burned.
For it is evening; sun is set
And night’s about to start;
Quiet, the moon begins to fret
From waves coming apart.
And it sparkles with its glow,
The paths among the grove.
Beneath the mighty linden row
Two youths sat, full of love:
- "Oh, my love, upon your breast
I’d want my head to lay,
Under the peaceful eye to rest
And sweetly drift away;
With the charm of your cold gaze
See clear through my thoughts,
Eternal peace throughout the haze
Of passions dark with naughts.
And holding me, remain above
Solace I could redeem,
For you’re my first and only love
And also my last dream."
Hyperion would clearly read
Amazement in their eyes;
He’d gently touch her neck while she’d
Embrace his warm midsize...
The fragrant silver blooms would fall
Like the warm rain in summer,
Over the young boy and the girl
With long locks, gold and amber.
Drunk with love, she slowly raised
Her eyes towards the sky. She saw
The Evening Star. And dazed
She said, almost in awe:
- " Descend to me, Eve Star, so kind
Glide down on a lights’ beam,
Enter my forest and my mind
And make my life a dream!”
He’d tremble, just as in the past
Through woods, across the hills,
And past the waves aimlessly cast
Lonely, wind-wandrin’ chills;
But as in past, he did not fall
Sinking deep to sea:
- "What cares thee, mere-mortal gal,
If ’tis another one or me?
You’re passing midst thine narrow life
With luck as sole virtue,
But in my world I’ll always thrive
Eternal, cold, and blue."
|
Following Hwy 1 South through Coral Gables and Palmetto Bay you run out of “land” at some point and hit the marshland of the Florida Glades. Shortly after, you’re driving through the famed Keys, starting with the larger ones (Largo, Plantation, Islamorada, Marathon) before hitting the smaller ones (too many to count) and ending up in Key West.
The beaches in Key West are nothing to write home about. Small, with rocky “edges” but the water is clean and the diving/snorkeling [I hear] is excellent. Fort Zachary Taylor state park is the one beach worth visiting, albeit for a small admission fee.
The one other tourist “attraction” is a concrete buoy near the Truman Annex (Navy property) that’s not even accurate on what it claims, yet makes for another ‘Kodak’ spot. In actuality, there are a couple of private islands further south, and even some of the land owned by the Navy (or portions of the aforementioned state park) lie further south. Fun fact: this used to be just a small sign that was often stolen, before local authorities built this in 1983. Good luck stealing this, they said! So all we did was ‘steal’ a picture!
