Classic Poem

Manch Bild vergessener Zeiten

From graves of times forgotten
?Old visions come to me
Revealing what, when near you,
?My life once used to be.
By day I wandered dreaming
?Through streets and alleys until
The people looked at me wondering;
?I was so moody and still.
By night 'twas somewhat better—
?The streets were an empty rout;
And I and my shadow together
?Went staggering blindly about.
With ever-echoing footsteps
?I crossed the bridge by chance;
The moon broke through the darkness
?And shot me an earnest glance.
I stood there, before your dwelling,
?And gazed into the night;
And gazed up at your window—
?My heart torn at the sight . . .
I know that, oft, from the window,
?Those lonely streets you scanned,
And saw me in the moonbeams,
?Like some white pillar stand.