.
When I was a boy
a god would often rescue me
from the shouting and violence of humans.
Then, safe and well, I would play
with the meadow flowers,
and heaven's breezes
would play with me.
.
And as you delight the heart
of plants, stretching their tender
arms toward you,
Father Helios,
so you delighted my heart,
and I was your beloved,
holy Luna, just like Endymion!
.
All you faithful
friendly gods!
I wish you knew
how my soul loved you!
.
Naturally I couldn't call you
by name then, nor did you use
mine, as humans do, as if
they really knew each other.
.
But I was better acquainted with you
than I ever was with humans.
I knew the stillness of the Aether:
I never understood the words of men.
.
The euphony of the rustling
meadow was my education;
among flowers I learned to love.
.
I grew up
in the arms of the gods.
.
~ Friedrich Hölderlin
.
