I am blind, you out there—that is a curse,

against one’s will, a contradiction,

a heavy daily burden.

I lay my hand on the arm of my wife,

my grey hand upon her greyer grey,

as she guides me through empty spaces.

You move about and stir, and imagine

your sounds differing from stone to stone.

But you are mistaken: I alone

live and suffer and complain, for

in me is an endless crying,

and I do not know whether it is

my heart that cries or my bowels.

Do you recognize these songs? You never sang them,

not quite with this intonation.

For you every morning brings its new light

warm through your open windows.

And you have the feeling from face to face

that tempts you to be indulgent.