Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916.

By A Day Spent

Gustav Falke (1853–1916)

LEANING head on hand, I muse: oh, tell,

Day of beauty, have I used thee well?

First upon my wife’s dear lips a kiss,

Love’s salute and early morning bliss.

Faithful toil, for daily bread the care,

Men’s dispute in words that never spare.

Then I quaffed my glass with true delight,

Warded off a wicked wish with might.

From eternal stars with blessed beam

Comes to me at last the poet’s dream.

Leaning head on hand, I muse and tell:

Day of beauty, I have used thee well.