He is more than a hero

H e i s a god in my eyes —
the man w ho is allowed
to s it be side you - h e

who lis tens intimately
to t he sweet murmur of
yo ur voice, the enticing

laughter that makes my own
heart beat fast. If I meet
you suddenly, I can’t

speak — my tongue is broken;
a t h in flame r u ns under
my ski n;seeing nothing,

hearing only my own ears
drumming, I drip with sweat;
trembling shakes my body

and I tur n paler than
dry gr ass. At s uch times
death isn’t f ar from m e.


Translated by Mary Barnard (1958)