Frühe Gedichte -- Mahomets Gesang -- Mahomet's Song

Mahomet's Song

See the mountain spring

glisten like a sweet star,

so joyous and clear;

Kindly spirits nourished his youth

in thickets between the cliffs

above the clouds.

Now, like a fresh blade

he swings from out the clouds

to kiss the marble rocks,

and shouts for joy

at their rough touch,

then leaps on back to heaven.

Through the mountain passes

he dallies after colorful pebbles,

round and round a trickle of cold pebbles,

till quick then, he surges as a leader

and tears his brother springs away with him.

And the forests wake around his tracks,

though he stops for no valley’s shadow.

And the flowers burst from out his steps,

though no fragrance clings for long to his knees.

To the meadows he coils!

Like a flowing snake.

Streams nestle to his side

as he enters the silver plains

that gather his resplendent splendor

and with his glory blaze.

And the rivers of the plains,

and the streams of the mountains

join with him and call: Brother!

brother, take your brothers with you.

With you to our ancient father,

to the eternal ocean,

who with open arms

waits for us.

Arms which, which open in vain

to carry us who long for him.

For here, here the barren desert sands

consume us.  The sun above us

drinks our very blood.  A hill might form

beside us, and draw us into ponds oh Brother!

Take your brothers from the plains,

take your brothers from the mountains,

take your brothers all, take us to our father.

So join with me all!

And so he swells

magnificent.  A thousand beings

as one, they bear the prince aloft.

And in a rolling triumph, he gives

names to all the lands.  Births cities

in his fertile tracks.

Unrelenting, he rushes on, past

castles tipped with soaring flames,

past mansions shaped of marble, creations

his abundance left behind him.

Cedar houses bears this Atlas

on his shoulders, and snapping

proudly above his head, a thousand

flags dart through the air

testifying to his glory.

And so he bears his brothers,

his treasures, his children,

in a wave of surging joy pressed

against his mighty heart, to their waiting father.