Death Fugue

Black milk of morning we drink it evenings

we drink it noons and forenoons we drink it nights

we drink and drink

we shovel a grave in the air there one’s not snug

A man dwells at home he plays with snakes he writes

he writes when it gets dark to Germany your golden hair Margarete

he writes and walks from the house and the stars flare he whistles up his hounds

he whistles down his Jews lets a grave be shoveled in the earth

he orders us play now for the dance

Black milk of morning we drink you nights

we drink you forenoons and noons we drink you evenings

we drink and drink

A man lives at home and plays with snakes he writes

he writes when it gets dark to Germany your golden hair Margarete

Your ashen hair Shulamith we shovel a grave in the air there one’s not snug

He shouts dig deeper in the ground you there you others sing and play

he grabs for the iron in his strap he swings it his eyes are blue

dig your spades in deeper you here you others play on for the dance

Black milk of morning we drink you nights

we drink you noons and forenoons we drink you evenings

we drink and drink

a man lives at home your golden hair Margarete

your ashen hair Shulamith he plays with snakes

He shouts play sweeter death death is a master from Germany

he shouts strike darker your fiddles then you will rise as smoke in the air

then you will have a grave in the clouds there one’s not snug

Black milk of morning we drink you nights

we drink you noons death is a master from Germany

we drink you evenings and forenoons we drink and drink

death is a master from Germany his eye is blue

he will hit you with a lead bullet he will hit you exactly

a man lives at home your golden hair Margarete

he sets his hounds upon us and builds us a grave in the air

he plays with snakes and dreams death is a master from Germany

your golden hair Margarete

your ashen hair Shulamith

Paul Celan