Despairing Cries
1.
Despairing cries float ceaselessly toward me, day and night, The sad voice of Death—the call of my nearest lover, putting forth, alarmed, uncertain, “The Sea I am quickly to sail: come tell me, Come tell me where I am speeding—tell me my destination.”
2.
I understand your anguish, but I cannot help you;
I approach, hear, behold—the sad mouth, the look out of the eyes, your
mute inquiry,
“Whither I go from the bed I recline on, come tell me.”
Old age, alarmed, uncertain—A young woman’s voice, appealing to me for
comfort;
A young man’s voice, “Shall I not escape?”