Kytice

1:10:23

Hum and whirl my spinning wheel,

1:10:26

The end of Advent
soon shall peal,

1:10:28

And closer,
closer Christmas Day.

1:10:35

All hail to Christmas Eve,
You holiday of myth,

1:10:39

What do you bring us all
To recollect you with?

1:10:42

To the master, Christmas bread,
Fodder to his cattle,

1:10:46

To the rooster, cloves of garlic
Peas to hens who prattle.

1:10:55

I am a youthful maid
With heart as yet untaken,

1:11:01

And in my restless mind
Other thoughts awaken.

1:11:06

Yonder, where the forest ends,

1:11:09

And the sluice-gate forms a gap.

1:11:12

Venerable willows stand
Each with a snowy cap.

1:11:19

And there a gnarled old tree
ls nodding and abiding,

1:11:24

And down beneath the ice
The cold blue lake is hiding.

1:11:30

They say when midnight comes
And the moon shines bright above

1:11:34

Within the waters' depth appears
A maiden's future love.

1:11:49

Oh midnight does not frighten me
I scoff at superstition,

1:11:54

And with an axe
I'll chop the ice

1:11:59

And so fulfil my mission.