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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.
page 131
Walser / Hamburger 10And Went Without a word he waved his hat and went, they say about the travelling man. It tore the leaves off every tree and went, they say about rude autumn. Smiling it shared out favours, grace and went, they say of majesty. By night it knocked upon the door and went, they say of heartfelt grief. Weeping he pointed at his heart and went, they say about the poor man. 11Oppressive Light Two trees rise bare in the snow, the heavens, weary of light, move homeward and here below only sadness meets my sight. And behind the trees there loom houses as high, as dark. Now something is said in the gloom, now dogs begin to bark. 125

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Walser / Hamburger

10And Went

Without a word he waved his hat and went, they say about the travelling man. It tore the leaves off every tree and went, they say about rude autumn. Smiling it shared out favours, grace and went, they say of majesty. By night it knocked upon the door and went, they say of heartfelt grief. Weeping he pointed at his heart and went, they say about the poor man.

11Oppressive Light

Two trees rise bare in the snow, the heavens, weary of light, move homeward and here below only sadness meets my sight.

And behind the trees there loom houses as high, as dark. Now something is said in the gloom, now dogs begin to bark.

125

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