At the time when I had long suffered and the
hours were snares to me, you appeared to me as
the welcoming light that shines from the windows
on to the snow in the depths of winter evenings.
The brightness of your hospitable soul touched my
heart lightly without wounding it, like a hand of
tranquil warmth.
Then came a holy trust, and an open heart, and
affection, and the union at last of our two
loving hands, one evening of clear understanding
and of gentle calm.
Since then, although summer has followed frost
both in ourselves and beneath the sky whose
eternal flames deck with gold all the paths of
our thoughts;
And although our love has become an immense
flower, springing from proud desire, that ever
begins anew within our heart, to grow yet better;
I still look back on the small light that was
sweet to me, the first.