Through the earth in vain I've driven Poem by Karel van de Woestijne

Through the earth in vain I've driven
a root, to the most secret waters:
no branch of me will ever bloom, nor will
the wind hear the resonance of my word
re-echo through the lofty foliage.

I am no royal queen of bees
imprisoned in her fruitful cell;
for never a joy of mine will sway
the busy swarms which, come May,
swell the chequered honeycomb.

And I have followed the straight way,
against the abyss of denial.
There's no abyss. And my delusion
would now just like to sleep a while
and lie tamely down to rest.