Tuesday, May 17, 2011

One Enthusiasmless Dream

Once
By Nina Cassian

The old rock-climber cries out in his sleep,
    Dreaming without enthusiasm
Of a great cliff immeasurably steep,
    Or of the sort of yawning chasm,
    Now far too deep,
That once, made safe by rashness, he could leap.

--Translated by Richard Wilbur