autumn

autumn was thorough and
stripped the trees
bare.

how is it that
not naked, nor unclothed
they stand
magnificently,
still.
how is it that
not cold, nor shivering
they stand
with dignity –

while even summer's foliage will never hide our shame

as the clouds break
branches beckon
the overwintering
bird.

walking at night

through the darkened streets
by the moonlight
hiding behind clouds
nobody sings
the wind's blown out the lanterns

hope

on the bare branches buds
promise next year's leaves
this morning
i put all my faith in this promise
all my dreams on this tree

untitled

she picks fading flowers from the grass
an ambulance speeds past

she looks at me and smiles

runs towards me, fading flowers in her fist:
they are for you, let us go home now

and we go
the siren's sound is fading, seagulls cry
i clutch the wilted clover and her hand

haiku

days without sunlight
but tonight frost, and the moon
falls through my window

Danton

(bowing to the genius of Georg Büchner)

I.
we have no time to loose
but time is losing us
Danton, we still put one foot in front of the other
and do not see
how this might ever change
we crawl into bed at night and in the morning, out.
it is sad.
during the sleepless nights we crawl deeper into darkness,
it is very sad.
all the millions before us and those who will come after
putting one foot in front of the other
we have no time to loose, Danton
dying, we become childish
putting one foot in front of the other
time is losing us

II.
for some thoughts there should be no ears
they should not cry at birth
like children

wishing not to think
if it speaks like this
crying at birth like children

speaking with lips of rocks and stones
your lips were full of eyes she said, and you had ears

and thoughts that cried at birth, like children,
cry, cry, child, no ears
rocks and stones

III.
such a poor instrument, one string, always the same note

(tomorrow, a broken fiddle, its melody is finished)

IV.
what do you want, Danton?
peace. peace is in nothingness; meditate upon something more
peaceful than nothingness, and if the highest peace is god, is
not nothingness god? but i'm an atheist. (that was your line,
but who would not want peace, but some people are afraid of
nothingness, and then the cursed sentence:) something cannot become nothing!
and i am something. (is that the problem, Danton?)
creation has spread so much, nothing is
empty it is swarming everywhere
(and how can this be peace?)

V.
it is so pretty to say good-bye,
i just have to close the door
so pretty
good-bye

über den tag

über den tag weine ich
über die rose die starb
bevor der nebel sie umgab
bevor der regen
sie benetzt
die tote blüte zuletzt
verloren die herbstzeitlosen auch
über den tag kahler strauch