Classic Poem

1

Through the garden of shadow-
flowers, walks the boy,
the golden light of a lantern
shining in his hand

Bathed in light, only his face
interrupts the dark.
In his hair, the years
softly smile.

The boy, holding up
the lantern in his hand,
pokes into the corners of the garden
where now there is no one.

He walks in search
of the grace of some fantasy
Its plants ruffled,
the dark garden follows him.

3

Raising and lowering
the light of the lantern, the boy
carries it through the garden
The shadow-flowers wilt.

Against the heaped
mass of vegetation, dancing
figures materialize,
from an imaginary world

A stream of colors
cascades into the garden.
Mighty in his mystery, the boy
lords over this beauty.

Beyond the garden's
mud walls, night
is a monstrous weaving
of darkness and stars.

4

Nothing sleeps. Removing its disguise,
every single thing
shines in a multitude,
in a vast vigil.

With the quick pulse
of a demon, the boy's
wondrous hands
jiggle the lantern.

The garden, leafless
with its flowers of shadow,
makes the boy
light-footed in the dust.

Meandering, as in sleep,
the boy walks on. A rainbow
of tales and legends
illuminates his forehead.

6

Neither toys nor games,
nor candies, nor cakes are worth
more than this walk
of color-streaked joy.

All eyes, the garden
delights in the boy
who, drunk with fables,
founds his empire.

Giant grows the boy,
giant the lantern, and both
spread over the night
a blue of blue fire.

Mantled with stars, the streets
extend farther out,
where silence keeps watch
on its mystical guard.

7

In the night, twilled
with dampness and odors,
insects fly into each other
fevered by music.

While men snore
with a long snoring sound,
while dogs bark
the boy lives his night.

In the boy's hands
the lantern jiggles
spilling a deluge
of suns and auroras

Never, never will death
kill the boy. Never! From now on
his miraculous lantern will shine,
effulgent forever.