In
the morning I cast my net into the sea.
I
dragged up from the dark abyss things of strange aspect and strange
beauty--some shone like a smile, some glistened like tears, and some
were flushed like the cheeks of a bride.
When
with the day's burden I went home, my love was sitting in the garden
idly tearing the leaves of a flower.
I
hesitated for a moment, and then placed at her feet all that I had
dragged up, and stood silent.
She
glanced at them and said, "What strange things are these? I know
not of what use they are!"
I
bowed my head in shame and thought, "I have not fought for these, I
did not buy them in the market; they are not fit gifts for her."
Then
the whole night through I flung them one by one into the street.
In
the morning travellers came; they picked them up and carried them into
far countries.