Recover

By Konstantin Nikolaevich Batiushkov

As a wild flower hangs its head and wilts
Beneath the reaper’s killing scythe,
Ill, I awaited my untimely end
And thought: the fateful hour’s nigh.
With eyes already veiled by Erebus’ thick gloom,
My heart slowed down its beat:
I was collapsing, disappearing, and it seemed
The sun of youth had set.
Then you arrived, O my heart’s joy,
And with the breath of your red lips,
The flaming tears of your bright eyes
The union of our kisses,
The strength of loving words and passionate sighs
You called me back from gloomy realms,
From Orcus’s fields and Lethe’s shores
Sweet pleasures to enjoy again.
You give me life once more, it is your healing gift,
I’ll breathe you in until my grave.
My mortal hour will ev’n be sweet:
For now I die of love.

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