green star sirius

dribbling over the lake;

the stars have gone so far on their road,

yet we're awake!

without a sound

the new young year comes in

and is half-way over the lake.

we must begin

again. this love so full

of hate has hurt us so,

we lie side by side

moored—but no,

let me get up

and wash quite clean

of this hate.—

so green

the great star goes!

i am washed quite clean,

quite clean of it all.

but e'en

so cold, so cold and clean

now the hate is gone!

it is all no good,

i am chilled to the bone

now the hate is gone;

there is nothing left;

i am pure like bone,

of all feeling bereft.

a bad beginning

the yellow sun steps over the mountain-top

and falters a few short steps across the lake—

are you awake?

see, glittering on the milk-blue, morning lake

they are laying the golden racing-track of the

sun;

the day has begun.

the sun is in my eyes, i must get up.

i want to go, there's a gold road blazes before

my breast—which is so sore.

what?—your throat is bruised, bruised with my

kisses?

ah, but if i am cruel what then are you?

i am bruised right through.

what if i love you!—this misery

of your dissatisfaction and misprision

stupefies me.

ah yes, your open arms! ah yes, ah yes,

you would take me to your breast!—but no,

you should come to mine,

it were better so.

here i am—get up and come to me!

not as a visitor either, nor a sweet

and winsome child of innocence; nor

as an insolent mistress telling my pulse's beat.

come to me like a woman coming home

to the man who is her husband, all the rest

subordinate to this, that he and she

are joined together for ever, as is best.

behind me on the lake i hear the steamer drum-

ming

from austria. there lies the world, and here

am i. which way are you coming?