I have declared this Linden to be holy,
that I continue to see as a woman.
Far enough away there's but little difference:
The trunk is the body, the clothes leaves,
and above all the golden hair is the blossoms.
If the right moment might be spared
from change, then I could see
how she emerged out of her effigy
and make a photograph of this to save.
A motion picture could be made, the process
would be manageable, I could give self-willed
the intended phase so much wide screen
that she would spontaneously outlive the tree,
having escaped appearance and herself partaking,
out of the blind breach walking to meet me.
Back to Gerrit Achterberg
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