#stuart merrill

If you have come to give me faith in life Bring to my sad sojourn, Ascending on the stairway of your love, The golden key to turn.

If you have come to give me faith in death, Choose then the iron key, And close the windows to the dawn That yester-shadows may remain with me.

What import to my soul has life or death, If only it is you that come before, Gaoler whose key of iron or of gold Shall violate the secret of my door?

And why send forth these words in solitude To you who perchance will never, on your round, Waken me with gentle voice or rude As the chimes of destiny sound.

                      [...]

Siffle la faux, saignent les fleurs.

Voici le soir de la grande lune ;

Vienne la nuit, pleurent mes sœurs,

Les fleurs ont chu l'une après l'une.

                      [...]

Tourne le rouet, dorment les vieux ;

C'est un linceul qu'on tisse en l'ombre ;

Tremblent les poings, clignent les yeux,

Les morts sont là, mes sœurs, en nombre.

                      [...]

Fume l'encens, veille l'amour,

Dans son lit bleu la vierge est morte ;

Couvre le feu, tombe le jour,

L'Ange, mes sœurs, frappe à la porte.

                                                                                            Stuart Merrill