124

I wanted only to stop, stand still, and was driven on and on, past hovels of the poor; at one of those poor hovels I wanted to stop all the same to contemplate its poverty and how its smoke so slowly curls to the sky, I long to stop for a long time here. I said all this and laughed, the green of the meadows laughed, the smoke rose smokily smiling, I was driven on and on.

Walser / Hamburger

9Fear

I wish the houses would break loose and go for me. That would be frightening.

I wish my heart would twist, my reason freeze. That would be frightening.

What’s gruesomest of all I wish to press to me. I long for utmost fear, for agony.