Twenty-three. on and one.


Todesfuge

Black milk of daybreak we drink it at evening
we drink it at midday and morning we drink it at night
we drink and we drink
we shovel a grave in the air where you won't lie too cramped
A man lives in the house he plays wit his vipers he writes
he writes when it grows dark to Deustchland your golden hair Margareta
he writes it and steps out of doors and the stars are all sparkling
he whistles his hounds to stay close
he whistles his Jews into rows has then shovel a grave in the ground
he commands us to play up for the dance


Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at morning and morning we drink you at evening
we drink and we drink
A man lives in the house he plays wit his vipers he writes
he writes when it grows dark to Deustchland your golden hair Margareta
Your ashen hair Shulamith we shovel a grave in the air
where we won't lie too cramped

He shouts dig deeper this earth deeper you lot there you others sing up and play
he grabs for the rod in his belt he swings it his eyes are so blue
stick your spades deeper you lot there you others play for the dacning

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at morning and morning we drink you at evening
we drink and we drink
a man lives in the house your goldenes Haar Margareta
your ashenes Haar Shulamith he plays with his vipers

He shouts play death more sweetly this Death is a master from Deustchland
he shouts scrape your strings darker you'll rise as smoke o the sky
you'll then have a grave int he clouds where you won't lie too cramped

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at midday Death is a master aus Deustchland
we drink you evening and morning we drink and we drink
this Death is ein Meister aus Deustchland his eye it is blue
he shoots you with shot made of lead he shoots you level and true
a man lives in the house your goldenes Haar Margarete
he looses his hounds on us grants us a grave in the air
he plays with his vipers and daydreams der Tod ist ein Meister aus
Deustchland

dein goldenes Haar Margarete
dein ashenes Haar Shulamith

-- Paul Celan
translated by John Felstiner