Give me the flute
Give me the flute and sing,
immortality lies in a song
and even after we�ve perished
the flute continues to lament.
Have you taken refuge in the woods
away from places, like me,
followed streams on their courses
and climbed up the rocks?
Did you ever bathe in a perfume
and dry yourself with a light
drink the dawn as wine
rarefied in goblets of ether?
Give me the flute then and sing,
the best of prayer is song
and even when life perishes
the flute continues to lament.
Have you spent an evening
as I have done, among vines,
where the golden candelabra
clusters hang down?
Did you sleep on the grass at night
and let space be your blanket,
abstaining from all that will come
forgetful of all that has passed?
Give the flute then and sing,
in singing is Justice for the heart
and even after every guilt has perished
the flute continues to lament.
Give the flute and sing
forget illness and its cure,
people are nothing but lines
which are scribbled on water.
