Dikt; La Fraisne av Erza Pound

Scene: The Ash Wood of Malvern
 
 
FOR I was a gaunt, grave councillor, 
Being in all things wise, and very old; 
But I have put aside this folly and the cold 
That old age weareth for a cloak. 
 
I was quite strong—at least they said so—         5
The young men at the sword-play; 
But I have put aside this folly, being gay 
In another fashion that more suiteth me. 
 
I have curled mid the boles of the ash wood, 
I have hidden my face where the oak         10
Spread his leaves over me, and the yoke 
Of the old ways of men have I cast aside. 
 
By the still pool of Mar-nan-otha 
Have I found me a bride 
That was a dog-wood tree some syne.         15
She hath called me from mine old ways; 
She hath hushed my rancor of council, 
Bidding me praise 
 
Naught but the wind that flutters in the leaves. 
 
She hath drawn me from mine old ways,         20
Till men say that I am mad; 
But I have seen the sorrow of men, and am glad, 
For I know that the wailing and bitterness are a folly. 
And I? I have put aside all folly and all grief. 
I wrapped my tears in an ellum leaf         25
And left them under a stone; 
And now men call me mad because I have thrown 
All folly from me, putting it aside 
To leave the old barren ways of men, 
Because my bride         30
Is a pool of the wood; and 
Though all men say that I am mad 
It is only that I am glad— 
Very glad, for my bride hath toward me a great love 
That is sweeter than the love of women         35
That plague and burn and drive one away. 
 
Aie-e! ’Tis true that I am gay, 
  Quite gay, for I have her alone here 
  And no man troubleth us. 
 
Once when I was among the young men …         40
And they said I was quite strong, among the young men … 
Once there was a woman … 
… but I forget … she was … 
… I hope she will not come again. 
 
… I do not remember …         45
I think she hurt me once, but … 
That was very long ago.

I do not like to remember things any more. 
 
I like one little band of winds that blow 
In the ash trees here:         50
For we are quite alone, 
Here mid the ash trees.

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