1. I say I'm weary of it, yet I return, longing,
As if I've never loved, never grown weary.

2. But no! As if I've never praised
Its bending boughs, never wished.

3. Never let its cups pour freely
Fragrant to the lips, never wished to drink.

4. Never bent over sickly lids,
Healed by them, never weakened myself.

5. Ten years slipped by, and two, independently,
Without asking leave, gaining independence.

6. Let evil temper fabricate what it will,
I've tested its moods until I grew weary.

7. If poverty befell me, I have excuses
To offer for not visiting it, excuses ready at hand.

8. I never set out to visit dear friends
Except I slipped away, disappointed.

9. God forbid! Of refined character I'm made,
Free clay of which I'm molded.

10. But I found affection has become a market
Where people traffic, so I've withdrawn.

11. In weakness I was accused, though I'm not weak,
Abandoned through cowardice, though I'm no coward.

12. I've experienced people and days until
My hands are crippled by all they've grasped.

13. My derelictions give them joy, though I don't ask
Their help. They're blind to such derelictions.

14. I never kneaded their dough, so it's enough
Their hairs are caught in it, infiltrating it.

15. I never asked to borrow their threads
When my own would suffice, unraveling freely.

16. Just so I was created; I never sold my cheek
For their kisses, never acted the wanton.

17. I was never seduced by glory,
Shouting, entreating for more.

18. But by nature, it stays pure,
By spirit pleased, untroubled.

19. I found that beauty increases by diminishing,
For were perfection decreed, I'd not have perfected.

20. Differences disappear without defects,
So were perfection decreed, it too would not perfect.

21. My father, I'm weary, and if I were created
A new being with whom I love – yet I love no one – I'd be equitable.

22. Their ghosts come suddenly, as if
I'm carried to them again, newly borne.

23. The pleasures I lived with them, happily
Encamping together or staying in their ruins.

24. By God! They never wronged me
Nor burdened me, nor I them.

25. If I possessed any tendency it would be
To faultfinding, swerving from my nature.

26. If given the chance, I'd have leapt
Like mercury, quick to transform.

27. But I trail my robe confusedly
In a garment I wrapped myself fifty years ago.

28. What I lost and what I gained shame me
When facing the reed flute's melody.

29. Had they burdened me with sin or evil
I'd have borne it as they did, stumbling.

30. But I took heart – so what care I
If my period's long or short life's cup?

31. I asked endurance, "How can I stay beautiful?"
It said, "That which makes me beautiful makes you so."

32. The days make me forget myself;
I don't forget grievances or remain heedless.

33. However difficult I become, if the rights
Of a true brother appear to me, I find the road easy.

34. And I – though humiliation's my ally,
All is lightened by his dignity if I'm disgraced.

35. From intimacy with the two cheek dimples.
I have an elite – if they deemed me their superior,

36. I'd not prefer paradise gardens to them.
If I were tasked with all harm and evil

37. As ransom from their pain, I'd bear it.
My father, I'm weary, yet I don't cease being faithful

38. To words I've said or deeds I've undertaken,
A café I've favored half a century

39. Celebrating its memory and fellowship.
A lifetime of memories of sorrows and cares

40. I've used to shorten this or that sadness.
Faces look out at me over the years

41. With which, like the dawn's first light, I've dressed my eyes.
Sigh after sigh I send up

42. For those I've lost and those I've wept over.
I say I'm weary of it, as if thereby

43. Laying earth down on a dear grave.
Yet I return, longing, to breathe in from it

44. The scent of earth where I've rolled.
I wonder, how many smiles have I cheapened,

45. How many tears heated and debased?
I said to my friend as the cup bent

46. My hand, as if steeping it in my blood:
Inspired by her glances, allure overflowing

47. Into my cup, filling it with her lips' dew.
She's filled it – leaning over to spill

48. Onto my shoulder her tresses – and I'm filled.
Echoes of the mingled melody

49. Through which I emptied what I never emptied before,
As if by its echo I climbed stairs

50. To the sky and never came down.
By your father's life, my words don't burden you,

51. Though many a burdensome word have I said.
Then I said: I see my seventy years as lifetimes

52. Of clarity, and seven, should I err or stray.