| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Christmas in Ajaccio | | By Konrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825–1898) |
| | | ORANGES all ripe and golden we have seen, and myrtle growing, | |
| And the lizard flit along the wall, in sunlight glowing. | |
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| O’er our heads beside a wilted bush a butterfly was gliding: | |
| There is here no border, sharply youth and age dividing. | |
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| Buds are born before the wind has blown away the leaves that wither, | 5 |
| In a sweet entanglement the train of hours flies hither. | |
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| Tell me what your eyes are dreaming? Of a winter—aye, a white one? | |
| Dear, ’tis by a spring that you are richer, and a bright one! | |
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| For you love the ling’ring suns and glowing colours strong, unshaded— | |
| And for home you’re longing, where they long ago have faded? | 10 |
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| Hark! Through mildest airs of Paradise the Christmas bells are calling! | |
| Tell me what your eyes are dreaming? Of the snowflakes falling? | | | | |
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