Come now, sorrows, one by one,
let me open the window and see
your many grieving faces.
.
Tired now of watching happy faces,
my eyes are weary —
o sorrows, do not waste more time.
.
Move aside, kisses of the beloved,
sick now of kissing, of churning —
today I need a little scolding instead.
.
Come slowly, shadows of despair,
restlessness, go far away,
let me arrange for some melancholy.
.
O grieving ones,
o eternally grieving ones,
how long since I’ve seen you!
Today I need you badly.
.
O unfulfillments,
where are you?
The vessel of fulfillment filled up long ago,
today it’s the vessel of unfulfillment that badly needs filling.
.
Loves, leave for today,
the heart’s been far too elated lately,
let a little stillness come now.
.
O friends, bring your knives,
plant them in my back —
how long since I’ve seen a traitor!
.
Lovers, let go of my hand,
I can’t hold on any longer,
I need a little freedom now.
To my wife I say,
enough tenderness, enough teasing and play,
now step forward into a quarrel.
.
All the sorrows of this one life,
I beg you, palms joined,
for just one more poem’s sake,
come stand before me once again.
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