—Quench thy hot fire, O daughter of drakes,
The flame of thine eyes burns through the blue ice,
Where winter reigns, no rivulets are needed,
This bitter salt water is frozen twice.
Here shall I stand in a crystal mail,
Here shall I dwell behind the frozen wall.
I need no pain from thy burning gaze,
Come not too near—turn back, withdraw.
So shall I see thee as through a glass,
So clear thou art, near kin to ice.
Come not too near, oh come not near—
There in the distance thy scales do gleam,
Thy rainbow wings give whispering sound.
Look not on me—avert thine eyes!
Too golden-sunlit they blaze with fire
Within silver realm, under the moon….
—Only by stealth I watch thee now
From shelter of frost and big cold stones,
No harm I bring, no wound I deal,
My glance is swift, it shall melt no frost,
Scarce wilt thou mark its passing flight.
I know thy world, the crystal blade—
It pierced my heart and lodges still;
Neither to draw it nor die at last.
Upon my wings the rainbow flames,—
For dragon-pain is ever bright;
We fade to dimness only in death.
Dare I approach, dare I draw near?
Yet I must fail—I look behind.
How fair thou art, how wondrous fair…
Yea, now I turn mine eyes away.
2025.09.28