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Only one with the glimmer of dawn

A star ascending from the depths

Once with trembling hand, and unwav'ring gaze

A singular bloom I beheld, of beauteous sorrow.

Innocent of her shining, golden blaze-

"I am withered, waning ev'ry morrow."

"Blossom, where there be day, see thou only night?"

She shone as a gem

In whose gleaming facets I glimpsed

the sun of a summer

I had never seen.

"Wherefore flower thou here?

The hour grows late, and frost

Already caresses the heath.

Should not ye have danced

In long days afore?"

"I beg thee remain

And stay by my side;

The winter is long

And I am afraid to die."

She stirred my heart,

which so long had been

A casket, empty,

of rotten wood carven.

To wander alone the asphodel vale

I could not her forsake.

Wreathed in her scent

The cold fain would claim

But close by her side

In rapture I remained.

Days as golden dust passed.

April's sunset approached at last

I achingly drew away

Once more to meet my fate.

A bid farewell, I looked in her eyes,

"When ash and oak in amber shine,

To bask in your radiance

I shall come again."