By now, he knew of fears whose coming on

was Death-like, and was not to be endured.

His heart had slowly learned to grow inured;

he raised it well, just like a son.

And he knew nameless hardships every day,

as windowless and boxed-in days went by;

he sent his soul obediently away

(since it was grown-up now), so it might lie

beside its lord and bridegroom; left behind,

alone and cut off in the kind of place

where loneliness expanded in the mind,

he spoke no words and saw no human face.

But in return, a long time on, he knew

as well that joy he held in his own hands,

and learned the tenderness one understands,

laying it down the way all creatures do.

Die Bettler

Du wußtest nicht, was den Haufen

ausmacht. Ein Fremder fand

Bettler darin. Sie verkaufen

das Hohle aus ihrer Hand.

Sie zeigen dem Hergereisten

ihren Mund voll Mist,

und er darf (er kann es sich leisten)

sehn, wie ihr Aussatz frißt.

Es zergeht in ihren zerrührten

Augen sein fremdes Gesicht;

und sie freuen sich des Verführten

und speien, wenn er spricht.