^{translated from the German by Babette Deutsch and Avrahm Yarmolinsky}

Put out my eyes: and I shall see you, too,
seal up my ears: and I shall hear you still,
and without feet I yet can go to you, 
and with no mouth, adjure you and I will. 
Break off my arms, and I shall hold you fast
even with my heart, as though it were a hand; 
arrest my heart, my brain to throb is sworn, 
and if into my brain you fling a brand, 
yet on my very blood you will be borne.

Lösch mir die Augen aus

Lösch mir die Augen aus: ich kann dich sehn,
wirf mir die Ohren zu: ich kann dich hören, 
und ohne Füße kann ich zu dir gehn, 
und ohne Mund noch kann ich dich beschwören.
Brich mir die Arme ab, ich fasse dich 
mit meinem Herzen wie mit einer Hand,
halt mir das Herz zu, und mein Hirn wird schlagen, 
und wirfst du in mein Hirn den Brand, 
so werd ich dich auf meinem Blute tragen.

               How does Love speak?
In the faint flush upon the telltale cheek, 
And in the pallor that succeeds it; by 
The quivering lid of an averted eye––
The smile that proves the parent to a sigh––
               Thus doth Love speak. 

               How does Love speak? 
By the uneven heart-throbs, and the freak 
Of bounding pulses that stand still and ache,
While new emotions, like strange barges, make 
Along vein-channels their disturbing course;
Still as the dawn, and with the dawn’s swift force––
               Thus doth Love speak. 

               How does Love speak? 
In the avoidance of that which we seek––
The sudden silence and reserve when near––
The eye that glistens with an unshed tear––
The joy that seems the counterpart of fear, 
As the alarmed heart leaps in the breast,
And knows, and names, and greets its godlike guest––
               Thus doth Love speak.

               How does love speak?
In the proud spirit suddenly grown meek––
The haughty heart grown humble; in the tender 
And unnamed light that floods the world with splendour;
In the resemblance which the fond eyes trace 
In all fair things to one beloved face; 
In the shy touch of hands that thrill and tremble––
In looks and lips that can no more dissemble––
               Thus doth Love speak. 

               How does Love speak? 
In the wild words that uttered seem so weak 
They shrink ashamed to silence; in the fire
Glance strikes with glance, swift flashing high and higher, 
Like lightnings that precede the mighty storm; 
In the deep soulful stillness; in the warm, 
Impassioned tide that sweeps through throbbing veins,
Between the shores of keen delights and pains;
In the embrace where madness melts in bliss, 
And in the convulsive rapture of a kiss––
               Thus doth Love speak.

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
   In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey, and plenty of money
   Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
   And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
   What a beautiful Pussy you are,
            You are,
            You are!
   What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
   How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! let us be married; too long we have tarried,
   But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the bong-tree grows;
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood,
   With a ring at the end of his nose,
            His nose,
            His nose,
   With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
   Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
   By the turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince and slices of quince,
   Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
   They danced by the light of the moon,
            The moon,
            The moon,
   They danced by the light of the moon.