Nocturne to Nature

Wilhelm Baumgartner

Wrap me up in green blankets,

With your rustling, sing me to sleep;

May you wake me with good times

With your new day's brand new light!

I have come to you with tiredness,

My eyes are blurred with your splendor;

Now, it is my only wish

To rest, dreaming, in your night.

Joyful lights of the eyes of children

You already capture with flowers

And should childish grief want to dampen it with tears,

You flush him with tinted light.

If wild hatred, immoderate love

Ever captivated me before,

I always remained a child

When I came freely to you.

Beloved one, who with endless truth

And endless youth refreshes me,

You singular happiness, that without repentance

And without regret enraptures me -

Should I ever become untrue to you,

Coldly forget you, without thanks,

Then I am base, brought low,

My heart corrupt or sick.

O stay evermore against my back,

I will lie in the field in my time!

With your warm motherly looks

Also rest on me in harshest strife.

And should finality find me,

Quickly cover me with grass;

O to die and to vanish blessed

In your hostel's still rest.