English poem
The Proem
by Adolf Wolff (1882–1940)
I sing and sigh and also curse, Thus only can I give expression To that which will not brook repression; I am alive, I have a voice, And so I sing and sigh and curse-- All life doth sing and sigh and curse.
The joy of love is in my song, I sigh for pleasures yet untasted-- For things I dream--o'er moments wasted And sometimes interrupt my song With clenched fist to curse a wrong-- It is a joy to curse a wrong.
And so I sing and sigh and curse-- All life doth sing and sigh and curse.