| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | Dieser Liebe toller Fasching | | By Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) |
| | (Translated by Louis Untermeyer) |
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THIS mad carnival of loving, | |
| This wild orgy of the flesh, | |
| Ends at last and we two, sobered, | |
| Look at one another, yawning. | |
| |
| Emptied the inflaming cup | 5 |
| That was filled with sensuous potions, | |
| Foaming, almost running over— | |
| Emptied is the flaming cup. | |
| |
| All the violins are silent | |
| That impelled our feet to dancing, | 10 |
| To the giddy dance of passion— | |
| Silent are the violins. | |
| |
| All the lanterns now are darkened | |
| That once poured their streaming brilliance | |
| On the masquerades and mummurs— | 15 |
| Darkened now are all the lanterns. | |
| |
| And to-morrow is Ash Wednesday, | |
| And I put a cross of ashes | |
| On your lovely brow, and tell you: | |
| “Woman, you are dust. Remember!” | 20 | | |
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