Classic Poem

Forgotten by the world,
Near the dark sea
I saw a valley
Of deepest grief.

Under the gloomy sky
In great sadness
Ancient forests
Their branches swayed;
And burning tears
Down dark wrinkles
Of aged trunks
Morosely ran. . . .
The sky lamented;
The waves groaned;
Scowling pines
Longingly moaned.

In that unescapable anguish
Shadows roamed;
Wrung their hands;
Fell on their knees,
Forgotten by the world, —
Their Creator begged. ...
And their song re-echoed
In the sorrowful valley
By the sea and forest,
Like a burial sigh. . . .

No one listened
Sans sun, sans light,
Under everlasting cold,
Without a welcome greeting,
Bound by the sea
And the dreamy forest —
They drank
Burning desperation.

He who had not known in life
Suffering for mankind,
Who in holiday joyousness
Had not heard sobbing,
And had not seen sorrow,
Nor noticed tears,
Him, in the valley,
Sobbing, I met.