Light within the Shade: Eight Hundred Years of Hungarian Poetry

Night and Star

28 | Light within the Shade Night and Star I am night, you’re starlight, Glittering and chill, I am dark with anguish, Desire makes me ill. Under you my midnight Quivers painfully, While your high face hovers As divinity. In your beauty’s lightrays Sleep can never flow, I in waking torment Dream towards your glow. Would that I could show you That which faith keeps hid, Earthchild’s lovely secrets, To the stars forbid, What no lips could ever Breathe out in a vow, Mystery that only Night and pain can know. Would I could uplift this Mournful face of mine That my shade might make your Glory brighter shine. And the more I blacken In my throttled pain So the more you’d kindle Purer yet again. m i h á ly vörösm a rt y | 29 Would I might be lost there, Where I most desire, Once, but once, to touch it, Your unquenching fire! 1841 ...