Outside, white snowflakes are blowing <br />Through the night: the storm is loud: <br />Here I’m alone, beside the blazing <br />Hearth inside, warm, quietly bowed. <br />I sit here in my chair, just thinking, <br />Here beside the crackling glow, <br />Kettle humming, as its boiling, <br />Melodies from long ago. <br />And my little cat sits near me <br />Warms its paws beside the coals, <br />While the flames are flickering, weaving <br />Brave imaginings in my soul. <br />Now many a long forgotten age <br />Rises in twilight air, <br />As if in shining masquerade, <br />And faded splendour, there. <br />Lovely women with knowing glances <br />Beckoning with sweet mystery, <br />And Harlequins in prancing dances <br />Leaping, laughing merrily. <br />Marble gods from furthest distance <br />Greet me: near them, dreamlike, grow <br />Flowers, from tales, that entrance <br />In the moonlight glow. <br />Many a magic castle, rising, <br />Swims uncertainly to view, <br />Behind them gleaming knights riding <br />And with them pageboys too. <br />And all of this goes flashing by, <br />Hurrying on in shadow flight – <br />Ah! The kettle’s boiling over, <br />And the little cat howls with fright.<br /><br />Heinrich Heine<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/altes-kaminst-ck/
