The vault of heaven shines with countless points of light that seem to flow in a river, immense and brilliant on this night that is ours. Another river nearby reflects the lights of the fireflies flying incessantly around us. It is said that this it's the dance of the fireflies, a dance of love. I am holding you tight, underneath the mantle, the summer night is humid in this place where finally I have realized my dreams, embracing you and whispering to you all my love. You are sleeping and instead I cannot sleep. How long I have waited, hoped, and ached for this moment. I knew that I was born for this, to arrive here on the shores of this great river, to love you, wrapped and protected by the night. Those which are falling are tears of joy, but you won't know. You are sleeping peacefully, nestled against me, your cheek on my chest, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And I am lulling you, in the circle of my arms, and I swear to you that I won't ever let you go. Only a thought, almost a stabbing pain in all this: it's just a summer cold, you said. But I know that it is not so ... sometimes you are coughing and your body shakes. I will have to take care of you, and you of me and guide my steps in the dark. But despite all of this, happiness pervades me as a sweet heat that rises from the heart and spreads, a feeling of plenitude that I have never experienced. Now I know what it does mean to be truly happy. I know what it does mean to have received love. All my life I have been craving to be loved by you. And now you gave me everything that I wanted, you said those words that my soul yearned for, those that my heart madly desired. Such an immense joy... another thought, disturbing, slips into my mind. Now that I have had everything, I have everything to lose. The ancient Greeks used to say that the envy of the gods hits the men who are too happy. But I've never had anything in my life, this is the first time that I savour such a complete happiness. Nothing bad can happen now. It shall not... It can't be everything as ephemeral as the dance of the fireflies. Notes: The firefly lives only a few days at the adult stage, the time needed for mating and reproduction. These insects emit light in order to communicate and find a partner, and often in the fields close to the rivers (depending on the pollution) you can watch this dance of the fireflies, which is nothing else than their season of love. The envy of the gods is a concept that appears in the history and literature of the ancient Greece. The gods do not tolerate that men may have either too much luck, or happiness, or glory and become jealous, and work to knock them down The man mustn't exceed the limits set by the gods and must submit to their will. |
|