Richard Dehmel (1863–1920)

I TOSSED a rose into the sea,

A blooming fair rose into the green sea.

Because the sun shone, sun shone bright,

After it leaped the light,

With hundred tremulous toes in glee.

When the first wave came,

Then my rose, my rose began to drown.

When the second wave raised it on shoulders tame,

The light, the light at her feet sank down.

The third snatched it up and then the light,

As if in defence, leaped high tremblingly.

But a hundred leaping flower petals

Were rocking red, red, red round me,

And my boat danced about

And my shadow like a spright

On the foam, and the green sea, the sea—