The Palm and the Pine

Heinrich Heine (1797–1856)

From the German by Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton

BENEATH an Indian palm a girl

Of other blood reposes;

Her cheek is clear and pale as pearl

Amid that wild of roses.

Beside a northern pine a boy

Is leaning fancy-bound,

Nor listens where with noisy joy

Awaits the impatient hound.

Cool grows the sick and feverish calm,

Relaxed the frosty twine,—

The pine-tree dreameth of the palm,

The palm-tree of the pine.

As soon shall nature interlace

Those dimly-visioned boughs,

As these young lovers face to face

Renew their early vows.