Canto Iv: Chants of a Madman

One thousand & one souls! Treading along my endless road, Are you going to my stream To drag out all my fishes? When they saw me, they laughed; Then, I’ld kill a thousand of them; One thousand to die for laughter: Laughing at my thing all day long! One thousand & one birds! Flying along my endless road, Heading for my forest then: To perch on all my trees? When they saw me they sang; Then, I’ld feed a thousand of them; One thousand to grow for song: Singing solely for me all day long! One thousand & one fishes! Swimming inside my endless stream, Heading for my sea then: To swim in all my waters? When they saw me they danced; Then, I’ld feed a thousand of them; One thousand to grow & dance: Dancing solely for me all day long! Some think that I am mad; Yet only mad people laugh at others: One thousand & one souls! When they saw me they laughed. Better are my thousand singers; Better are my thousand dancers; Than all the laughter at my thing: Songs & dances are better than thinking! O, I’ve not been to the sea: For long long time I miss my sea! Ha! I’ve not been to the bush: For long long time I miss my bush! Tell mother, I’m gone to sing; Tell father, I’m gone to sing; On the plains of my road, so empty, In all the world, I’ld sing & dance!