Four Seasons Poetry by Herman Hesse

Frühling (Hesse) In twilit caverns I dreamed long of your trees and blue skies, your fragrance and birdsong. Now you lie revealed in glistening splendour, bathed in light like a miracle before me. You know me once more; you beckon me tenderly My whole body trembles at your divine presence. Beim Schlafengehen (Hesse) Now that I feel the tiredness of the day, my deep longing shall welcome the starlit night as a weary child does. Hands, cease your toiling, head, forget about thinking, for all my senses now are longing to sink themselves in slumber. And the unguarded spirit wants to float on free wings, so that in the magic circle of the night it may live deeply and a thousandfold. September (Hesse) The garden is in mourning. Cool falls the rain upon the flowers. Summer shudders, quietly to its end. Leaf after golden leaf drops down from the high acacia tree. Summer smiles, surprised and weary upon the dying dream of this garden. Yet still it lingers by the roses, longing for rest. Then slowly closes its great weary eyes. Im Abendrot (Eichendorff) Through trouble and joy we have walked hand in hand; we can rest from our wanderings now, above the peaceful country-side. The valleys fall away around us, the sky is already darkening, Only a pair of larks still rise dreamily into the scented air. Come here, and let them fly For soon it will be time to sleep and we must not lose our way in this solitude. O broad, contented peace! So deep in the sunset glow, How exhausted we are with our wanderings— can this then be death?