MUGEN.

                                    (WITHOUT WORDS.)

I gathered the carnations and roses—an April day—
(O, flowers and Spring!)
I trod the road to the nightingale’s nest,
And I met a poet underneath the shade—
(O, Spring and Poet!)
I offered him the flowers, and poetry I begged him to speak:
The flowers he smelled, to the sky sent his golden eyes,
And to me he smiled—
(O smile vaporing around my soul!)
In purple forgetfulness I lost me,—in bliss.
Smile? Nay, Spring! Nay, Universe! Nay, Poetry!
By and by, the poet and I trod with the moon
(O Poet, I and the moon!)
Along the road of the zephyr,
Away, we three.

                                                                        Yone Noguchi.