I
You faithful things
that would my faith desire,
With you I forget
that I hold people dear.
You things secure.
before you I can fall in peace,
but mists and dew
are all friendship's promises.
You strong things,
that have no body and no soul,
Oh, make for me with you
the safest bed of all.
II
And yet - you, my friend,
the things you gave to me.
Your beauty, it is in them.
Else none in them would be.
You became my heavy thirst
for worlds of white relief,
You became the vision cool
that steels me to all grief.
You glimpse of distant goals,
that stretch your wing so free,
my way is a way to you.
Else none in them would be.
For more information, please visit the website of David McDuff and his own pages with the translations.