Songs of Bilitis - Benjamin Adamah

THE MOON WITH BLUE EYES
At night the hair of women and the willow's branches merge and mingle softly
with each other. I walked upon the water's edge. Suddenly I heard a singing
voice: 'twas then I knew there were some maidens there.
I said to them: "What do you sing?" They answered me: "We sing of those
returning." One waited for her father, one her brother; but she who waited for
her lover was the most uneasy.
They had plaited crowns and garlands for themselves, cut palms from the palmtrees
and dragged the lotos from the pond. They had their arms about each
other's necks, and sang alternately.
I wandered on along the river's edge, sadly and alone, but, looking all about me, I
perceived the blue-eyed moon had risen behind the trees, to see me home.
SONG
Shades of the wood where she now ought to be, tell me, whence has my fair
mistress strayed? --She has gone down to the plain. --Meadow, oh! tell me, where
is my mistress? --She has followed the banks of the stream.
--Beautiful river who just saw her passing, tell me, is she hereabouts? --She has
left me to stray on the road. --Oh, road, do you still see her? --She has left me for
the street.
--Oh, white street, path of the city, tell me, oh! where have you lead her? --To the
golden street, which enters Sardis. --Oh! pathway of light, do her naked feet press
you? --She has entered the home of the King.
--Oh, palace of splendor, light of the world, give her again back to me! --See! she
has necklaces, hung to her breasts, chaplets of blossoms entwined in her hair,
long strings of pearls looped on her legs, and two arms encircle her waist.
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