Poetry: Johannes Richter

In the last light of these fading days . . .

In the last light of these fading days
I see your beauty crest the waves
Ever reaching for the distant shore
yet never touching its sacred floor
Always rolling out with thunderous roar
only to knock on a dead man's door
Constantly you crash into hot persuit
soon to retreat from a cold-washed foot
You break yourself into a thousand drops
But behold! Your healing never stops.

Oh, Heaven's distant!

Oh, Heaven's distant! My paradise is lost
and perfect silence lulls a loving heart to sleep
where hope abides, but silent gates still keep
a fitful rest with dreams of dungeons vile and deep
where without thy beauty silent sorrows weep
these tears of poetry - that soothe my aching heart -
that drip down walls of older sorrows cold to touch
but warm them for a while, softly, and not overmuch,
enough to recall memories, or hopes, where today tomorrow stays,
Yet they trickle down, and one into another flows, like rays,
which together form the sun that lights my lonely days.

I forgive their silent song - their thoughts make mine depart -
Hence to Heaven I can look again, its shining light receive,
and squint to find a beauty that does not my eyes deceive;
Show me truth that shades my life and lifts my heart,
and I will forever in love believe.