Up to the star new-born in sight
Such long a trail’s to fumble,
Millennia had chased the light
‘fore it ‘on us did stumble…

It might have died along the way,
Sometime ago, in glory,
But ‘tis just now we see a ray
Doth shine to tell its story.

This dead star’s icon ‘cross the sky
Doth slowly venture for a spot:
‘twas there when didn’t meet the eye,
We see it now, and there ‘tis not.

Likewise, though ‘twixt us came the night
And private will did swallow,
Our dead love’s still-inflaming light
Within ourselves doth follow…

Adapted translation (‘La Steaua’, Mihai Eminescu) by Axel H. Lenn