thought for today

Endless our day --
It is without end.
It only goes away to another place,
moves silently away for a little while,
throws the blue coat around its shoulders,
rinses it feet in the ocean and goes away
then comes running back again with rosy cheeks
and with cool, good hands
lifts your chin and looks you in the face
and says: "Are you awake yet?"

Endless our night—
it is without end.
it only goes away to another place
a little while,
then it's here again
with its feverish eyes
and hair dripping wet with sweat
and says: "Why aren't you sleeping?"

There is no end to the joy, nor to the pain,
Nor to death, nor to life.
They only go away for a little while, they circle
the earth ,
to another heart,
a little while,
then they're back again with their halting voices:
"Are you sleeping? Are you awake?"

There is no end to the stars and the wind.

--Translated from the Norwegian by Robert Bly