As The 100th Anniversary Of The First Year Of World War I (Remember The War To End All Wars) Continues ... Some Remembrances-Poet’s Corner-German Jewish Poets   

ROBERT ZIEGEL (1895-1916)

SOUNDS OF ELLUL  

(This is the Hebrew month preceding the High Holiday autumn season.)

A black and rainy evening

With vague feelings of fear

 Alive with garish shrieking

Of shots both far and  near.

 

What bring you, laughing soldier

To my heart’s dark command

When I, pensive and sober,

In my own grave do stand

What strange column unmoving

Appears with such dark dread?

-- Oh, friends you are still living! --

Death, is your realm not fed?

At home with pious greeting

Loved ones the graves do search

Where are the dead now meeting?

The wind blows o’er the church

Death touches grave and heather

And sings: “This have I done.”

Perhaps from my eyes forever

Night will now hide the sun.

Translated by Peter Appelbaum