Ophelia

Drowning amongst the violets 

I sink deep into my heaven. 

He is gone and with him my mind. 


Reality is emptiness;

Who would rejoice in emptiness,

Except worms rotting with their food?


The living carrion sings in dreams:

Dreams alone have I left only. 

The thinning dust floats in my dreams. 


And what Paradise is madness!

I am with you, gone, gone, softly. 

Goodbye- have mercy- among bitter lillipads I sleep. 


Greetings, my imprisoned heart. Wait- a weeping brook calls me. 

No, he is dead. But I need it--

A tomb is held in dreams and arms.  


The water, the tears, the rain. Die, all!

You came to my window a wooing,

The walls stripped white bother not my soul. 

And I know only comfort coffin-bound to emptiness. 


He promised me to love, to wed,

And madness skips with a light tread, 

But I am gone, and he is dead. 


The prettiness to fever turns

And back again dance we, insane.  

He never will come again, no. 


And I fade amongst the flower garlands.