Death of the Soul

[Contents]Death of the SoulAs the nights pass, so pass the days,The year itself passes.Again I hear the rustlingof autumn leaves.The light of the eyes is fading,Memory is in the heart asleep.Everything sleeps,and I know notIf I live or am already dead.For so, aimlessI wander in the worldNo longer weep nor laugh.Fate, where art thou?Fate, where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate,Oh God,Then send it bad, as bad.Leave me notto a walking sleep.With heart like bears’in wintry den,Nor yet like rotten logon earth to lie;But give me to live,[125]with the heart to live,And love the people.If you won’tLet me curse themand burn up the world.Terrible it is to fallinto dungeonsYet much worse—to sleepAnd sleep and sleepin freedom;To slumber for an eternityAnd leave not a footprint behind.All alike—whether one lives or dies.Fate where art thou?Fate where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate, Oh God,Then give me bad, as bad.Ornament: stylished dove.[126]

[Contents]Death of the SoulAs the nights pass, so pass the days,The year itself passes.Again I hear the rustlingof autumn leaves.The light of the eyes is fading,Memory is in the heart asleep.Everything sleeps,and I know notIf I live or am already dead.For so, aimlessI wander in the worldNo longer weep nor laugh.Fate, where art thou?Fate, where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate,Oh God,Then send it bad, as bad.Leave me notto a walking sleep.With heart like bears’in wintry den,Nor yet like rotten logon earth to lie;But give me to live,[125]with the heart to live,And love the people.If you won’tLet me curse themand burn up the world.Terrible it is to fallinto dungeonsYet much worse—to sleepAnd sleep and sleepin freedom;To slumber for an eternityAnd leave not a footprint behind.All alike—whether one lives or dies.Fate where art thou?Fate where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate, Oh God,Then give me bad, as bad.Ornament: stylished dove.[126]

Death of the SoulAs the nights pass, so pass the days,The year itself passes.Again I hear the rustlingof autumn leaves.The light of the eyes is fading,Memory is in the heart asleep.Everything sleeps,and I know notIf I live or am already dead.For so, aimlessI wander in the worldNo longer weep nor laugh.Fate, where art thou?Fate, where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate,Oh God,Then send it bad, as bad.Leave me notto a walking sleep.With heart like bears’in wintry den,Nor yet like rotten logon earth to lie;But give me to live,[125]with the heart to live,And love the people.If you won’tLet me curse themand burn up the world.Terrible it is to fallinto dungeonsYet much worse—to sleepAnd sleep and sleepin freedom;To slumber for an eternityAnd leave not a footprint behind.All alike—whether one lives or dies.Fate where art thou?Fate where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate, Oh God,Then give me bad, as bad.

As the nights pass, so pass the days,The year itself passes.Again I hear the rustlingof autumn leaves.The light of the eyes is fading,Memory is in the heart asleep.Everything sleeps,and I know notIf I live or am already dead.For so, aimlessI wander in the worldNo longer weep nor laugh.Fate, where art thou?Fate, where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate,Oh God,Then send it bad, as bad.Leave me notto a walking sleep.With heart like bears’in wintry den,Nor yet like rotten logon earth to lie;But give me to live,[125]with the heart to live,And love the people.If you won’tLet me curse themand burn up the world.Terrible it is to fallinto dungeonsYet much worse—to sleepAnd sleep and sleepin freedom;To slumber for an eternityAnd leave not a footprint behind.All alike—whether one lives or dies.Fate where art thou?Fate where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate, Oh God,Then give me bad, as bad.

As the nights pass, so pass the days,The year itself passes.Again I hear the rustlingof autumn leaves.The light of the eyes is fading,Memory is in the heart asleep.Everything sleeps,and I know notIf I live or am already dead.For so, aimlessI wander in the worldNo longer weep nor laugh.

As the nights pass, so pass the days,

The year itself passes.

Again I hear the rustling

of autumn leaves.

The light of the eyes is fading,

Memory is in the heart asleep.

Everything sleeps,

and I know not

If I live or am already dead.

For so, aimless

I wander in the world

No longer weep nor laugh.

Fate, where art thou?Fate, where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate,Oh God,Then send it bad, as bad.Leave me notto a walking sleep.With heart like bears’in wintry den,Nor yet like rotten logon earth to lie;But give me to live,[125]with the heart to live,And love the people.If you won’tLet me curse themand burn up the world.

Fate, where art thou?

Fate, where art thou?

There’s none of any sort!

Dost grudge me good fate,

Oh God,

Then send it bad, as bad.

Leave me not

to a walking sleep.

With heart like bears’

in wintry den,

Nor yet like rotten log

on earth to lie;

But give me to live,[125]

with the heart to live,

And love the people.

If you won’t

Let me curse them

and burn up the world.

Terrible it is to fallinto dungeonsYet much worse—to sleepAnd sleep and sleepin freedom;To slumber for an eternityAnd leave not a footprint behind.All alike—whether one lives or dies.

Terrible it is to fall

into dungeons

Yet much worse—to sleep

And sleep and sleep

in freedom;

To slumber for an eternity

And leave not a footprint behind.

All alike—

whether one lives or dies.

Fate where art thou?Fate where art thou?There’s none of any sort!Dost grudge me good fate, Oh God,Then give me bad, as bad.

Fate where art thou?

Fate where art thou?

There’s none of any sort!

Dost grudge me good fate, Oh God,

Then give me bad, as bad.

Ornament: stylished dove.[126]

Ornament: stylished dove.

[126]


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