Frühe Gedichte -- Gretchen am Spinnrade -- Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel

Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel

My peace is gone,

my heart is heavy,

I’ll find them never

and never again.

Where I do not have him

is for me a grave,

the whole world spins,

gone bitter to taste.

My poorly head

turned upside down,

my poorly mind

torn inside out.

My peace is gone,

my heart is heavy,

I’ll find them never

and never again.

For him alone

I peer out the window,

for him alone

I leave my house.

His lofty gait,

his noble shape,

his smiling mouth

his piercing gaze.

And his speech that flows

like magic, his hands

my touch should know,

and oh, his kiss, his kiss.

My peace is gone,

my heart is heavy,

I’ll find them never

and never again.

My heart so longs

for him, could I

but catch and hold

him aside

and kiss him

as I should wish,

At his kisses

I should die!