Part 4 (1/2)
Gloomy thoughts in me awaken, And with fear my breast is shaken, Thinking: O thou black abyss; All the toil and thrift of life, All the struggle and the strife, Shall it come at last to this?
With the grave shall be requited Good and evil, and united Ne'er to separate again?
What the light hath parted purely, Shall the darkness join more surely?-- Was the vict'ry won in vain?
O mute and infinite extension, O time beyond our comprehension, Shall thought and deed ungarnered fall?
Ev'rything dost take and slay, Ev'rything dost bear away, Silent Nothing, silent All!...
The Canary
The free canary warbles In leafy forest dell: Who feels what rapture thrills her, And who her joy can tell?
The sweet canary warbles Where wealth and splendor dwell: Who knows what sorrow moves her, And who her pain can tell?
Want And I
Who's there? who's there? who was it tried To force the entrance I've denied?
An 'twere a friend, I'd gladly borne it, But no--'twas Want! I could have sworn it.
I heard thy voice, old witch, I know thee!
Avaunt, thou evil hag, beshrew thee!
G.o.d's curse! why seekest thou to find me?
Away to all black years behind me!
To torture me was thine endeavor, My body from my soul to sever, Of pride and courage to deprive me, And into beggary to drive me.
Begone, where thousand devils burn-- Begone, nor evermore return!
Begone, most wretched thou of creatures, And hide for aye thine hateful features!
--Beloved, ope the door in pity!
No friend have I in all the city Save thee, then open to my call!
The night is bleak, the snowflakes fall.
Thine own, old Want am I, believe me!
Ah, what delight, wilt thou receive me?
I found, when I from thee had parted, No friend but he was fickle-hearted!
Away, old hag! Thou liest, lo, Thou harbinger of pain and woe!
Away--am I thine only friend?
Thy lovers pale, they have no end!
Thou vile one, may the devil take thee!
Begone and no more visits make me!
For--Yiddish writers not to mention-- Men hold thee no such rare invention.
--'Tis true! yet those must wait my leisure.