A Stranger

You... you, O pensive, distracted old man, answer me.. you who so often grew drunk on the wine of love and pleasure, answer me: how can one live once love has passed you by and pleasure has played you false?!..

Today is spring, and tomorrow autumn. And the turning of time knows no mercy. What is the worth of the great radiant dawn, when the setting of the sun is a fate decreed?!..

What meaning has the garden's flower, so long as death keeps watch over it?..
What meaning has the garden's flower, with no fair maiden to breathe in its fragrance?!..

There is no light but darkness crouches in its heart!
And no rest but weariness leaps from its bowels!

And no glowing ember but in its core lies the sorrow of the ash!...

And the ash has blackened your shining fingers, old man, and you did not notice!..
And the darkness has dimmed your bright eyes, and you did not care!..

And weariness has settled upon your heart and your breast, and you did not understand, and did not know!

Your shadow alone is what follows you!
Your helplessness alone is what goads you!
Your regret alone is what gazes at you with a mocking eye and speaks to you!

Loneliness wraps you from this day in a collar of torment!
And the memory of your past gathers about your person like fog!
And the failing of your manhood storms through your mind, dazing you and casting into your heart the notion that it is a fit of youth!

Strength is behind you and weakness before you!
Beauty is at your back and ugliness ahead of you!

People are around you, and emptiness confronts you!
The wind of nothingness blows upon you, the cold of the grave steals into your veins, and the dread sickle of the harvest stands lying in wait for you!

There is no escape from patience and endurance!
No escape from stillness and calm!
No escape from submission and surrender!
So bow your hoary, weary head, and do not grieve!

Break your silver flute, and do not repent!
Sink yourself into the depths of the sunset, and do not dream!
Shatter desire before the serpent shatters you!
Cast out hope before despair casts you out!
Kill appetite before satiety kills you!
Be content, from the eye, with seeing; from the body, with movement; from the heart, with tranquility; and from the mind, with serenity and a detached looking-out upon the life of this world!

Do not cry out, and do not weep: the flute of desire is of silver, but the flute of reason is of gold. So take up your golden flute and go on.. take up your golden flute and sing!.. Sing, O pensive, distracted old man, the song of contemplation and wisdom — for today is spring and tomorrow autumn, and the turning of time knows no mercy. And what is the worth of the great radiant dawn, when the setting of the sun is a fate decreed?!..