Three students once tarried over the Rhine, <br />And into Frau Wirthin's turned to dine. <br /> <br />'Say, hostess, have you good beer and wine? <br />And where is that pretty daughter of thine?' <br /> <br />'My beer and wine is fresh and clear. <br />My daughter lies on her funeral bier.' <br /> <br />They softly tipped into the room; <br />She lay there in the silent gloom. <br /> <br />The first the white cloth gently raised, <br />And tearfully upon her gazed. <br /> <br />'If thou wert alive, O, lovely maid, <br />My heart at thy feet would to-day be laid!' <br /> <br />The second covered her face again, <br />And turned away with grief and pain. <br /> <br />'Ah, thou upon thy snow-white bier! <br />And I have loved thee so many a year.' <br /> <br />The third drew back again the veil, <br />And kissed the lips so cold and pale. <br /> <br />'I've loved thee always, I love thee to-day, <br />And will love thee, yes, forever and aye!'<br /><br />James Weldon Johnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/from-the-german-of-uhland/
