A Paraphrase of Heine
(LYRIC INTERMEZZO)
There fell a star from realms above—
A glittering, glorious star to see!
Methought it was the star of love,
So sweetly it illumined me.
And from the apple branches fell
Blossoms and leaves that time in June;
The wanton breezes wooed them well
With soft caress and amorous tune.
The white swan proudly sailed along
And vied her beauty with her note—
The river, jealous of her song,
Threw up its arms to clasp her throat.
But now—oh, now the dream is past—
The blossoms and the leaves are dead,
The swan’s sweet song is hushed at last,
And not a star burns overhead.
