Classic Poem

Nacht lag auf meinen Augen

Night lay upon my eyelids,
Upon my mouth lay lead;
My heart and brain were barren;
I lay with all the dead.

How long I lay there, sleeping
I know not; but I gave
A start and turned, for knocking
Sounded above my grave.

" Rise up, rise up, oh Heinrich,
The Dawn eternal breaks,
When all the dead are risen
And deathless Joy awakes. "

I cannot rise, my dearest;
Your face I cannot find —
I've wept until my sorrows
And tears have made me blind.

" From your dear eyes, oh Heinrich,
I'll kiss the night away;
And you shall see the angels,
And Heaven's bright array. "

I cannot rise, my dearest,
Bleeding I lie, unstirred;
Since, to the heart, you stabbed me
With one sharp, bitter word.

" Softly I'll lay, oh Heinrich,
My hand upon your heart,
And it will bleed no longer,
And I will soothe the smart. "

I cannot rise, my dearest,
My head is bleeding too;
'Tis there I fired the pistol
The day that I lost you!

" With my own hair, oh Heinrich,
I'll stop the gaping wound,
Press back the streaming torrent
And make you strong and sound. "

So soft her call, so tender,
She could not be denied —
I strove to rend my coffin
And struggle to her side . . .

Then all my wounds burst open;
I felt the torrent break
From head and burning bosom . . .
And lo, I was awake!