No
need to drive a nail into the wall
To
hang your hat on;
When
you come in, just drop it on the chair
No
guest has sat on.
Don’t
worry about watering the flowers—
In
fact, don’t plant them.
You
will have gone back home before they bloom,
And
who will want them?
If
mastering the language is too hard,
Only
be patient;
The
telegram imploring your return
Won’t
need translation.
Remember,
when the ceiling sheds itself
In
flakes of plaster,
The
wall that keeps you out is crumbling too,
As
fast or faster.
Translated from the German by Adam Kirsch
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