A Fable Of Life

A Fable

We stand at the source,
the plane tree and I.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree and me.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I and the cat.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me and the cat.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I, the cat and the sun.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me, the cat and the sun.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I, the cat, the sun and our life.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me, the cat, the sun and our life.

We stand at the source.
The cat will be the first to go,
its image will dissolve in the water.
Then I will go,
my image will dissolve in the water.
Then the plane tree will go,
its image will dissolve in the water.
Then the river will go,
the sun alone remaining,
then it will go too.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I, the cat, the sun and our life.
The water is cool,
the plane tree spreading.
I am writing a poem.
The sun is warm.
It's great to be alive.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me, the cat, the sun and our life.

NAZIM HIKMET, Turkish (1902-1963)

Whatever the future holds, while there is life there is joy to be found in the innocence of being alive.