FRIENDSHIP

I SHOT AN ARROW INTO THE AIR,
IT FELL TO EARTH, I KNEW NOT WHERE,
FOR, SO SWIFTLY IT FLEW, THE SIGHT
COULD NOT FOLLOW IT IN ITS FLIGHT.

I BREATHED A SONG INTO THE AIR,
IT FELL TO EARTH, I KNEW NOT WHERE;
FOR WHO HAS SIGHT SO KEEN AND STRONG,
THAT IT CAN FOLLOW THE FLIGHT OF SONG?

LONG, LONG AFTERWARD, IN AN OAK
I FOUND THE ARROW, STILL UNBROKE;
AND THE SONG, FROM BEGINNING TO END,
I FOUND AGAIN IN THE HEART OF A FRIEND.