paean

Your corona hovered above the furnace
the night we never slept
Ein Siegeskranz
Its gleam unlike before --
as a child, you held it when you wept.

We wavered in our praise of rags
holding the wine aloft
mulberry red
dear to our thirsting hearts
we bled, just as we drank the dregs.

Meine blaue Blume,
why have I not seen you for so long?
Where did the petals fall?
Did you sleep at all
in the chilly arms of history?

Driven forth, driven forth,
how then you fell asleep alone,
my locket at your throat,
your last hand-written note
by me at matins when we sang.