第1章

KarlMarxEARLYLITERARYEXPERIMENTS

FROMTHEALBUMSOFPOEMSDEDICATED

TOJENNYVONWESTPHALEN[1]

*

FromtheBOOKOFLOVE（PartI）[2]

CONCLUDINGSONNETSTOJENNY

I

Takeall，takeallthesesongsfrommeThatLoveatyourfeethumblylays，Where，intheLyre’sfullmelody，Soulfreelynearsinshiningrays。

Oh！ifSong’sechopotentbeTostirtolongingwithsweetlays，TomakethepulsethrobpassionatelyThatyourproudheartsublimelysways，ThenshallIwitnessfromafarHowVictorybearsyoulightalong，ThenshallIfight，moreboldbyfar，Thenshallmymusicsoarthehigher；

Transformed，morefreeshallringmysong，AndinsweetwoeshallweepmyLyre。

II

Tome，noFameterrestrialThattravelsfarthroughlandandnationToholdthemthrillinglyinthrallWithitsfar—flungreverberationIsworthyoureyes，whenshiningfull，Yourheart，whenwarmwithexultation，Ortwodeep—wellingtearsthatfall，Wrungfromyoureyesbysong’semotion。

GladlyI’dbreathemySoulawayIntheLyre’sdeepmelodioussighs，AndwouldaveryMasterdie，CouldItheexaltedgoalattain，CouldIbutwinthefairestprize——

Tosootheinyoubothjoyandpain。

III

Ah！Nowthesepagesforthmayfly，Approachyou，trembling，onceagain，MyspiritsloweredutterlyByfoolishfearsandparting’spain。

Myself—deludingfanciesstrayAlongtheboldestpathsinvain；

IcannotwinwhatismostHigh，Andsoonnomorehopeshallremain。

WhenIreturnfromdistantplacesTothatdearhome，filledwithdesire，Aspouseholdsyouinhisembraces，Andclaspsyouproudly，FairestOne。

Theno’ermerollsthelightning’sfireOfmiseryandoblivion。

IV

Forgivethat，boldlyriskingscornTheSoul’sdeepyearningtoconfess，Thesinger’slipsmusthotlyburnTowafttheflamesofhisdistress。

CanIagainstmyselfthenturnAndlosemyself，dumb，comfortless，Theverynameofsingerspurn，Notloveyou，havingseenyourface？

SohightheSoul’sillusionsaspire，O’ermeyoustandmagnificent；

’TisbutyourtearsthatIdesire，AndthatmysongsyouonlyenjoyedTolendthemgraceandornament；

ThenmaytheyfleeintotheVoid！

*

FromtheBOOKOFSONGS[3]

TOJENNY

I

Words——lies，hollowshadows，nothingmore，GrowdingLifefromallsidesround！

Inyou，deadandtired，mustIoutpourSpiritsthatinmeabound？

YetEarth’senviousGodshavescannedbeforeHumanfirewithgazeprofound；

AndforevermusttheEarthlingpoorMatehisbosom’sglowwithsound。

For，ifpassionleapedup，vibrant，bold，IntheSoul’ssweetradiance，Daringlyitwouldyourworldsenfold，Woulddethroneyou，wouldbringyoudownlow，WouldoutsoartheZephyr—dance。

Ripeaworldaboveyouthenwouldgrow。