What corner of earth
haven’t you been to?
and tonight
you’re here
in a friendly glow
Your village home
—you’ve been away
a long time
The war
not over yet

Wicker lamp getting dim
still a flick’ring light
snow
falling heavy without a sound
What a lot of things
you have seen and heard!
You must talk and talk
until morning

translated by C.H. Kwock & Vincent McHugh