Wanderers Nightsong

by Charles Bernstein

Wanderers Nightsong
for Marjorie Perloff, after Goethe

Over all the Crests
Is Rest
On high
You hear
Hardly a Breath;
The hummingbirds silent in nests.
Just wait until
You too will Rest.

Wandrers Nachtlied

Uber allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh,
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die V gelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.

1776