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Memorial

What remembrance
what stone stuck in our eye
what sweet death will we two take with us?

Will it be touching
like children's talk to children?
Will it be armfuls of leaves
and cheerful clothes and shoes?
Will it be lost letters
or pure searing pain?

Yes perhaps they'll throw us as crumbs
to the swans on the lake Perhaps they'll only throw us
to the stray dogs Perhaps they'll just wall us
into the piers of the bridge
which will arch over the dungheap
Yes
perhaps we'll get away yet with honour
and save our skin

Translated by Ewald Osers