Never let me lose the marvel br of your statue-like eyes, or the accent br the solitary rose of your breath br places on my cheek at night. br br I am afraid of being, on this shore, br a branchless trunk, and what I most regret br is having no flower, pulp, or clay br for the worm of my despair. br br If you are my hidden treasure, br if you are my cross, my dampened pain, br if I am a dog, and you alone my master, br br never let me lose what I have gained, br and adorn the branches of your river br with leaves of my estranged Autumn. br br br Translated by John K.