Lebe Wohl


"Lebe wohl" — Du fuehlest nicht,
Was es heisst, dies Wort der Schmerzen;
Mit getrostem Angesicht
Sagtest du´s und leichtem Herzen.

Lebe wohl! — Ach tausendmal
Hab ich mir es vorgesprochen,
Und in nimmersatter Qual
Mir das Herz damit gebrochen!



Eduard Moerike    1841




Farewell


"Farewell" — Do you not feel,
What it means, this word of anguish;
With calmness on your face
I heard you say it blithely.

Farewell! — Ah, a thousand times
I have said it to myself,
And with ne'er lessening pain
Felt my own heart breaking!



Translation: Charles L. Cingolani          Copyright © 2011




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. . . Moerike knows the sting of this word from recent experience . . .