In winter my beloved
is among the woodland creatures.
The vixen knows I have to return
before dawn, and laughs.
How the clouds shudder. And
on my snow collar falls
a layer of brittle ice.
In winter my beloved
is a tree among trees and invites
the hapless crows
into her beautiful boughs. She knows
that at dawn the wind
lifts her stiff, rime-coated
evening dress and chases me home.
In winter my beloved
is among the fish and dumb.
Enthralled by the waters, tremulous
from the stroking of her fins,
I stand on the shore and see,
until ice floes drive me away,
how she dives and turns.
And struck again by the hunting cry
of the bird that stiffens
its wings above me, I fall
in the open field: she plucks
the hens and throws me a white
collar bone. I put it round my neck
and go on through the bitter down.
Faithless is my beloved
I know, sometimes she hovers
on high heels into town,
in the bars she kisses the glasses
with a straw deep in their mouths
and words come to her for everyone.
But I am not versed in this language.
Fog land have I seen,
Fog heart have I eaten.