I am in the darkness and alone.
In front of me stands the door.
When I open it, I am bathed in light.
There are a father, a mother and sister,
A dog, which, dumb, still barks in friendliness.
How can I lie, and how can I say
That I, hidden there in darkness, have not come to harm them?
I drag myself over the threshold.
Snow blossoms in my eyes.
I saw him bowing to me courteously;
How much that hurt me.
How could my heart find peace,
When round it raced the voice of the old man?
I live in coldness.
I dried my tears and went
To where the man was eating with his family.
It was so calm and loving a reception.
I felt the violins sounding inside me
At first, so sweetly, so gently.
They will never sound again, when I have finished.
Fear drenched my hands.
Beneath me I could almost taste my womb.
A sneer seemed to say: ‘Have you no shame?
What have you done with the wedding-ring on your finger?
Terrible thief, where did you hide your courage?
Does the nakedness of my right hand mean so little to me?’
I felt so poor and naked.
I wriggled in my chair
And trembled to think what I must do.
Pity clawed at my heart and shook my body
Like a tree in a winter field blown by the wind
Shedding leaves.
I told myself it was time to go,
Scolding my wan, faded self for my little worries.
Pleased with myself again, I steeled myself for the torture.
The joy of it! Oh, how I want to be
Just like an animal and be happy again!
I sharpen my claws with a knife.
It is still night, and that thing called shame,
I may not let it show itself.
I know the train that tears through the woods.
I go out to the unfeeling rails.
Weary, I am glad to go to bed,
Running across two flat sticks of iron.
(Gertrud Kolmar)
More Poetry from Gertrud Kolmar:
Gertrud Kolmar Poems based on Topics: Man, Self, Courage, Dogs, Night, Fathers, Worry, Nature, Family, Snow, Running- Die Dichterin (With English Translation) (Gertrud Kolmar Poems)
- The Woman Poet -- Translation of Die Dichterin (Gertrud Kolmar Poems)
- The Swan (Translated from the German ) (Gertrud Kolmar Poems)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Night Poems, Light Poems, Nature Poems, War & Peace Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Fear Poems, Mothers Poems, Fathers Poems, Snow Poems, Courage PoemsBased on Keywords: wedding-ring, courteously, wriggled