"I wish I were like you," Said the forest to the roaring river, "Always travelling, always sightseeing; Rushing towards the pure domain of the sea, The kingdom of water; Water, The passionate, vigorous spirit of life, The liquid turquoise of light With eternal flow ... "But what am I? Only a captive, chained to the earth. In silence I grow old, In silence I wither and die, And before long nothing will remain of me But a handful of ashes." "O forest, half-asleep, half-awake", Cried the river, "I wish I were you, Enjoying a seclusion of living emerald, And illuminated by moonlit nights; Being a mirror reflecting the beauties of Spring; A shaded rendezvous for lovers. "Your destiny, a new life every year; My life, running away from myself all the time; Running. running, running in bewilderment; And what is my gain Of all this meaningless journey? Ah ... never having a moment of calm and rest!