Sadly, yes.

Thorn Rose:

Sadly, yes. Say, how’d you get here?

Don’t you have eyes like the ocean?

Did the waves toss you ashore here?

Did you fall from the clouds to us?

Stranger:

Did I come so undesired then?

Thorn Rose:

So as to disturb my pleasant dream.

Stranger:

Isn’t reality a dream too?

Aren’t we all, even when awake,

going about a bit like dreamers,

sleepwalkers in the light of day,

who play around with caprices

and act as if awake?

Well, we are, but what is being awake?

Does some god lead us by the hand?

Would he not do so where we have gone?

Have we any guarantee that we

would survive without someone higher?

Could we persist without this support

that we therefore do not apprehend,

because it is a riddle to us?

All is a dream, our houses are,

trade, industry, our food each day,

the cities, the countries and the

light and the sun. No one can claim

he understands. Understanding

is but piecemeal, never otherwise.

King:

Just give us details.

Stranger:

Just give us details. As you know,

I felt bored at my father’s court.

So one day I just wandered away

to see for myself what they call life,

and when I felt myself getting tired,

I slept where I could on the hard ground,

and afterward I walked once more,

and if someone stood in my way,

I fought for myself. Then I heard

about you.

Thorn Rose:

about you. About me?

Stranger:

about you. About me? They said

you slept in a tower surrounded

by wild roses and thorns, that you

were under a spell. Only he who

broke through to you could rescue you.

Thorn Rose:

That whetted your curiosity.

Stranger:

Perhaps I felt like taking the risk.

I continued on my journey

without ever having seen you,

just you in spirit before me,

with me every step of the way.

At twilight, I would spend the time

thinking of how gentle you were and

sweet, and how wonderful it would be

to stir you, for me to look upon

you a little, to draw you toward me

tighter and tighter and you thinking

of me, that I am good enough.

Perhaps I stand here somewhat awkward.

However, something happens as I

just stand here in person, and I do.

So I wandered on and then came here,

walked without any long second thoughts

into this enveloping rankness,

which, like it knew the time had come,

pulled away its thorns then and there

such that I found unobstructed

an entrance and hastened to you.

I saw and kissed you. Then you opened

your eyes,

Thorn Rose:

your eyes, because I had been surprised

by such a bold intruder?

Stranger:

by such a bold intruder? Many,

of those who weren’t as lucky as me,

I saw lying on the ground. A few

seemed to be smiling, as if they