| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | Gretchen’s Song | | By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) |
| | | MY peace is gone, | |
| My heart’s in pain; | |
| I’ll never, never | |
| Find peace again. | |
| |
| Where he cannot be | 5 |
| Is a grave for me, | |
| The world and all | |
| Is turned to gall. | |
| |
| My poor, poor head | |
| Is gone astray, | 10 |
| My sense has fled | |
| Oh, quite away. | |
| |
| My peace is gone, | |
| My heart’s in pain; | |
| I’ll never, never | 15 |
| Find peace again. | |
| |
| Out of the window | |
| For him I gaze, | |
| I seek him only | |
| On all my ways. | 20 |
| |
| His noble build, | |
| His bearing high, | |
| The smile on his lips, | |
| The power of his eye! | |
| |
| To hear him talk— | 25 |
| What magic bliss, | |
| To feel his hand, | |
| And—oh, his kiss! | |
| |
| My peace is gone, | |
| My heart’s in pain; | 30 |
| I’ll never, never | |
| Find peace again. | |
| |
| My bosom longs | |
| To hold him fast. | |
| If I could clasp him— | 35 |
| What joy at last! | |
| |
| And I should kiss him | |
| With my last breath, | |
| Till with his kisses | |
| I found my death! | 40 | | | |
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