Girl's Melancholy
A young knight comes to mind
Almost like an old saying.He came. Thus sometimes in the grove
The great storm comes and wraps around you.He left. Thus often the wild benison
Of the great bells breaks off
In the midst of prayer...
Then you want to scream in the silence,
And yet only weep softly inside,
Deep in your cool shawl.
A young knight comes to mind,
Riding far in full armor.
His smile was so soft and fine:
Like gleaming on old ivory,
Like homesickness, like a Christmas snowfall
In the dark village, like turquoise
Around which many pearls are fashioned,
Like moonlight
On a favorite book.
--Rainer M. Rilke