Kaspar Hauser's Song

Truly he loved the sun that climbed crimson down the hill,

The paths of the forest, the singing blackbird

And the joy of green.

Earnest was his living in the shade of the tree

And pure his face.

God spoke a gentle flame into his heart:

O man!

Quietly his footstep found the town in the evening;

The dark lament of his mouth:

I want to be a horseman.

But he was followed by bush and animal,

House and twilit garden of white men

And his murderer was seeking him out.

Spring and summer and already the autumn

Of the righteous one, his quiet footstep

Past the dark rooms of dreamers.

At night he remained alone with his star;

Saw snow falling in bare branches

And in the darkening hallway his murderer’s shadow.

In silver sank the head of the unborn.