Larenopfer

Vigils

99 ViGiLS i. Pale yellow fields are sleeping. Just my heart remains awake, while in the harbour, Evening reefs its red sails yet in rake. o blessed vigil! How the night is travelling the land; and lily-white the moon now blossoms in its hand. ii. Leaning out the gaping window, i let fly my dreams into the night. The silver threads of lunar light wind round the belfry, dark and high. Just few can view the world from far, escape the narrow court before one’s house. And yet the beacon of a tip-toe star can fill an empty life, the soul arouse. iii. now listen how the steps of night fade in the hush of endless space. i hear the chirping of my lamp light somewhat like a cricket when it prays. on bookshelves old engravings glow on golden shoulders bearing wit, as pillars for a bridge to go to fairy lands by fancy lit. 100 iV. Sie hat, halb Kind, einst eine nacht beim toten Mütterlein verbracht und hat geweint und hat gewacht;— dann gingen Jahre, Jahre sacht: nie hat sie jener nacht gedacht. und dann kam eine andre nacht. da hat von Glut und Sünd entfacht die rote Lippe Lust gelacht, doch plötzlich—wie durch höhere Macht dacht sie der nacht der Leichenwacht. 101 iV. A young girl once kept watch all night, beside her mother dear, in fright before the corpse so lily white, in silent mourning, numb with plight. With time she would forget, find light. And then arrived another night . . . despite herself, desire could still ignite her youth, red lips and laughter bright. But suddenly, as if by higher might, she sensed that night of wake and blight. ...