Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)

DEAR children, soon I’ll come again!

See, winter captures us in vain

Here in our rooms mid warmth and glee.

We’ll sit beside the fire these days,

Enjoy ourselves a thousand ways,

And love like angels, tenderly.

And little garlands let us wind,

And little nosegays let us bind,

Like little children let us be!