The Palm and the Pine

From the German of Heine.

In the far North stands a Pine-tree, lone,
 Upon a wintry height;
It sleeps: around it snows have thrown
 A covering of white.

It dreams forever of a Palm
 That, far i' the Morning-land,
Stands silent in a most sad calm
 Midst of the burning sand.

____ Point Lookout Prison, 1864.