Liebestod

A poem by Alan Seeger (1888-1916)

I who, conceived beneath another star,

Had been a prince and played with life, instead

Have been its slave, an outcast exiled far

From the fair things my faith has merited.

My ways have been the ways that wanderers tread

And those that make romance of poverty —

Soldier, I shared the soldier’s board and bed,

And Joy has been a thing more oft to me

Whispered by summer wind and summer sea

Than known incarnate in the hours it lies

All warm against our hearts and laughs into our eyes.

I know not if in risking my best days

I shall leave utterly behind me here

This dream that lightened me through lonesome ways

And that no disappointment made less dear;

Sometimes I think that, where the hilltops rear

Their white entrenchments back of tangled wire,

Behind the mist Death only can make clear,

There, like Brunhilde ringed with flaming fire,

Lies what shall ease my heart’s immense desire:

There, where beyond the horror and the pain

Only the brave shall pass, only the strong attain.

Truth or delusion, be it as it may,

Yet think it true, dear friends, for, thinking so,

That thought shall nerve our sinews on the day

When to the last assault our bugles blow:

Reckless of pain and peril we shall go,

Heads high and hearts aflame and bayonets bare,

And we shall brave eternity as though

Eyes looked on us in which we would seem fair —

One waited in whose presence we would wear,

Even as a lover who would be well-seen,

Our manhood faultless and our honor clean.

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Poems in English 

• Федор Сологуб – В лес пришла пастушка by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – В камине пылания много by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – В иных веках, в иной отчизне by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – В этот час by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – В его саду растет рябина by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Терцинами писать как будто очень трудно by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Тепло мне потому, что мой уютный дом by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Тень решётки прочной by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Там, внизу, костры горели by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Так же внятен мне, как прежде by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Так нежен был внезапный поцелуй by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Святых имен твоих не знаю by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Своеволием рока by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Светлый пир by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Светлый дом мой всё выше by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Сверкайте, миги строгих дней by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Солнце, которому больно by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Собака седого короля by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Снова саваны надели by Фёдор Сологуб
• Федор Сологуб – Снежное поле бесшумно by Фёдор Сологуб

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