| Margarete Münsterberg, ed., trans. A Harvest of German Verse. 1916. | | | | On the Death of a Child | | By Hugo Terberg (Pseud. for Hugo Münsterberg) (1863–1916) |
| | | DEAR child, now you have gone to sleep so gently: | |
| You smile in peace. | |
| Your little boat sails into port contently; | |
| Your day must cease. | |
| |
| The happy frolics with your dolls are over, | 5 |
| Your merry play; | |
| The flowers you loved—the daisies, poppies, clover— | |
| All fade away. | |
| |
| There stands your rocking-horse for you to ride it: | |
| You ride no more! | 10 |
| No school work—ah, you never could abide it!— | |
| Makes your heart sore. | |
| |
| Your sister in the lonely yard is straying | |
| With heavy heart. | |
| She waits for you no longer: in her playing | 15 |
| You have no part. | |
| |
| You lie as if in dreams—sweet calm about you: | |
| Dream on, dream on … | |
| Grieve not because the children play without you, | |
| When you are gone. | 20 |
| |
| We cannot long be playing games so gaily, | |
| Dear child, I know: | |
| Upon the rough wide road of life—ah, daily | |
| Rude winds must blow. | |
| |
| To go through life means fighting hard and grieving | 25 |
| With wounded breast … | |
| He who can part as child, his frolics leaving, | |
| Is truly blessed. | | | | |
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