When I was a boy...

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When I was a boy 

a god would often rescue me 

from the shouting and violence of humans. 

Then, safe and well, I would play 

with the meadow flowers, 

and heaven's breezes 

would play with me. 

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And as you delight the heart 

of plants, stretching their tender 

arms toward you, 

Father Helios, 

so you delighted my heart, 

and I was your beloved, 

holy Luna, just like Endymion!

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All you faithful 

friendly gods! 

I wish you knew 

how my soul loved you!

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Naturally I couldn't call you 

by name then, nor did you use 

mine, as humans do, as if 

they really knew each other.

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But I was better acquainted with you 

than I ever was with humans. 

I knew the stillness of the Aether: 

I never understood the words of men.

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The euphony of the rustling 

meadow was my education; 

among flowers I learned to love.

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I grew up 

in the arms of the gods.

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~ Friedrich Hölderlin

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