European Elegies/Autumn (2)/The burden of the night
91.THE BURDEN OF THE NIGHT
Weary, beyond the crestOf mountains in the west,The sun sinks down to slumber,While in the darkening blueThe light comes glimmering throughOf star-eyes without number.
Earth's features fade away,And colours of the dayAre swallowed up in shadows;Silent the marsh-bird flitsIn sleepy search of itsSoft nest among the meadows.
Now the returning nightHas touched us with its blightOf grief too deep for tears:Man, whom the fates shall kill,Must first with groans fulfilLife's black predestined years.
But slumber breaks the blowThat else would overthrowThe shaken heart of sorrow;Through the still hours of sleepReturning life-tides creepAnd rally towards the morrow.
From the Catalan of Emili Guanyavents.