Ah, were I but the paper dear Wherewith she’s wont her hair to curl, I’d gently whisper in her ear The thoughts that in me live and whirl.
Since my darling one has left me, Power of laughing is bereft me; Blockheads fain would raise a joke, But no laughter can provoke.
Since I’ve lost my darling one, Power of weeping, too, is gone; Though my heart with sorrow deep Wellnigh breaks, I cannot weep.
My little songs do I utter From out of my great, great sorrow; Some tinkling pinions they borrow, And tow’rd her bosom they flutter.
They found it, and over it hover’d, But soon return’d they, complaining, And yet to tell me disdaining What they in her bosom discover’d.
Sweet darling, beloved by me solely, The thoughts in my memory dwell That once I possess’d thee wholly, Thy soul and body as well.
Thy body, so young and tender, I need, beyond all doubt; Thy soul to the tomb I’ll surrender, I’ve plenty of soul without.
I’ll cut my soul in sunder, And half of it breathe into thee, And when I embrace thee,--O wonder!-- One soul and body we’ll be.
The blockheads, their holidays keeping, Are walking through forest and plain; They shout, and like kittens are leaping, And hail sweet Nature again.
They gaze, with glances that glisten, On each romantic thing; With ears like asses they listen To hear the sparrows sing.
My chamber window to darken, With black cloth I hang it by day; To the signal my spirits straight hearken, Day-visits they hasten to pay.
My olden love also draws nigh me, From the realms of the dead she appears; She, weeping, sits gently close by me, And softens my bosom to tears.
Many visions of times long vanish’d Arise from out of their tomb, And show me how once in thy presence I lived in my life’s young bloom.
All day I mournfully totter’d Through the streets, as though in a dream The people gazed on me with wonder, So silent and sad did I seem.
The night-time suited me better, Deserted the streets were then, And I and my shadow together We wandered in silence again.
With footsteps echoing loudly I wander’d over the bridge; The moon with solemn look hail’d me As she burst through the cloudy ridge.
I stood in front of thy dwelling, And fondly gazed up on high; I gazed up towards thy window, My heart breathed many a sigh.