What pale and slender flower
weeps before my eyes? What
reed, oh life, sheds tears as these?

This flower is as sunset, and as
fair, with tears of dew trapped
by the fisher's net, diamonds.

What frail and single power
holds thee here, oh reed?
Why tears on sunset's stain?

The wind shall carry my tears
away; the wind and nightfall
come, and I shall sleep, shall sleep.

What pale and single flower
sleeps before my eyes? What
reed, oh life, sheds tear as these?