The Maiden

 

Beautiful maiden, once more

To the valley sing your song,

So that the joyful mountain‘s echo

May awaken to your clear call!

 

Listen, oh maiden, how your song

Pierces through each mountain‘s soul,

How your every word they carry

And on and on they tell your story!

 

But once, as all will pass,

You will leave - your song won‘t last,

Whether it is love that’s found you,

Or it‘s death that’s come to call you.

 

And forsaken they will stand,

Staring sadly in silence

There the grey rocky clifftops,

And of your songs they‘ll think.

 

​

from op.90/4, Nikolaus Lenau