Alexandros R. Rhangabe (1810–1892)

Translated by E. Mayhew Edmonds

BEHOLD, sweet love, all things on this our earth

Have been prepared with leavening of tears!

With tears, delight—with tears, renown appears,—

With mingled tears hath every joy its birth.

O’er land and sea Man passes, still at strife;

He passes—memories, footprints, leaving none:

With tears mute science following alone,

Grows old—and dies—ere he hath studied Life.

His vague desires across black chaos sail,

He hopes—his hopes untimely withering fail.

Winged shadows he pursues,—on, on, they move.

Yet creeping through the darkness gently gleams

For him th’ illumining light of one star’s beams;

One smile alone—one smile—consoles him—Love.