With this cold kiss

She would have you,

O my love to keep.

Lay your head upon her lap,

Dreamless, go to sleep.

Does your true-love miss you?

Who could understand?

Look, my love, but never touch.

What does reason teach?

What can hatred yet demand?

Slender fingers softly lull you,

Cold and colder yet –

Though her lips will whisper secrets,

truth remains unsaid.

Love is cold and bitter-sweet;

Seek for truth within it.

Lay your clever, troubled head

Near the Snow Queen’s lily feet,

On her rose-strewn bed.

Though your eyes are open wide,

both your hearts

Are dead.