this bitter earth
well, what fruit it bears
and if my life
is like the dust
that hides the glow of a rose
what good am i
heaven only knows
yes can be so cold
today you are young
too soon you are old
but while a voice within me cries
i'm sure someone may answer my call
and this bitter earth
may not be so bitter after all
what good is love
that no-one shares
and if my life is like the dust
that hides the glow of a rose
what good am i
heaven only knows
****
the glow of a rose
under so many lids
can be so cold
joy of being
what kind of beings are they then
o shooting star
of a rose
while a voice
or an unfinished song
i live my life in widening rings
earth and sky
for they were riverbeds once
and in their sweetness
wander anywhere
i cannot name it
chamber of my heart
weeping too, perhaps
always both
how he loved and yet
depths bend toward you
heavens of lavished stars
the face that is dissolved
empty space, alone
god leapt out
from a motionless cloud
empty at last
landscape of her sorrow
and when she weeps
oh heavy with weeping
(various roses from rainer maria collected while listening to the bitter earth)
