At night, when the sea cradles me <br />And the pale star gleam <br />Lies down on its broad waves, <br />Then I free myself wholly <br />From all activity and all the love <br />And stand silent and breathe purely, <br />Alone, alone cradled by the sea <br />That lies there, cold and silent, with a thousand lights. <br />Then I have to think of my friends <br />And my gaze sinks into their gazes <br />And I ask each one, silent, alone: <br />"Are you still mine" <br />Is my sorrow a sorrow to you, my death a death? <br />Do you feel from my love, my grief, <br />Just a breath, just an echo?" <br />And the sea peacefully gazes back, silent, <br />And smiles: no. <br />And no greeting and now answer comes from anywhere. <br /> <br /> <br />Translated by James Wright <br /> <br /> <br />Submitted by Holt<br /><br />Hermann Hesse<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-night-on-the-high-seas/
