THE ANGEL SPEAKS

Christian Morgenstern

O if vou knew how your countenance

is changed, when in the midst

of that pure gaze which can unite you with me

Your hold upon yourself is lost

And you turn away

Just as a landscape in clear light

May suddenly cloud over, do you close

Yourself against me, and I have to wait

And wait in silence, often long

And if I were like you a human being

The pain of disdained love would kill me

But since the Father has given me unending patience

I wait for you unshaken and expectant,

whenever it may be you come

And even this gentle reproach

Take not as reproach-only as a pure message.