Verses by Otto Julius Bierbaum, translated by Julia Kalman
Please make sure to spend a minimum of 30 seconds reading my story.
I truly cherish the interaction of authentic readers. Thank you very much!
When I’m a bride, no dress of white,
No gown of silk, just ebony might.
Stitched with threads of snow-white rose,
In darkness, my beauty softly shows.
So I’ll walk, so I’ll glide,
Slowly, slowly, to be the bride,
But with dark roses, deep crimson hue,
Entwined in my hair, a passionate view.
And my bridal shirt? How shall it be?
Of finest linen, pure and free.
Just a hint of lace around the neck,
And beneath, a ribbon, soft like a beck.
This shall be my shirt of white,
And your groom, dear girl, what of his sight?
Tall and strong, my groom shall be,
Not too towering, but far from wee,
With eyes that laugh when holding me.
Do you know such a man, you ask in jest?
God, you’re naive! I know no rest,
For if I knew him, loved him so,
No time to dream, no time to sew.
I’d take him as he comes, tall or small,
The wedding dress would matter not at all.
I’d clothe myself in his loving gaze,
In black or white, through life’s maze.
For I know, whatever I wear, it’s right,
No need for a wedding dress in sight.
He Takes Her for a Pearl
Pearls slipped through my fingers’ glide:
Water, fleeting, swiftly died;
Gold approached, a swift tide:
Mountains of clouds, they did confide.
Nothing left within my grasp, nor pride,
I could buy naught; all treasures dried,
But what I found, could not be denied:
A heart for me, a joy untried,
Two eyes aglow, love as our guide,
And inner warmth, where we reside:
You, and I.
Otto Julius Bierbaum (28 June 1865–1 February 1910) was a German writer.
Please, clap, engage, and… stay tuned for the next story…! But, most importantly, a profound thank you to each one of you. Your unwavering support has been invaluable.
Julia Kalman 