In the old park, solitary and vast,
Over the frozen ground two forms once passed.
Their lips were languid and their eyes were dead,
And hardly could be heard the words they said.
In the old park, solitary and vast,
Two ghosts once met to summon up the past.
--Do you remember our old ecstasy?
--Why would you bring it back again to me?
--Do you still dream as you dreamed long ago?
Does your heart beat to my heart's beating?
--No.
--Ah, those old days, what joys have those days seen
When your lips met my lips!--It may have been.
--How blue the sky was, and our hope how light!
--Hope has flown helpless back into the night.
They walked through weeds withered and grasses dead,
And only the night heard the words they said.
_From Poèmes Saturniens_