We present this work in honor of the poet’s 95th birthday.

Someone is silent
and you think he is speaking
and you answer
and speak well
and reveal yourself
layer by layer that you cannot
give you who is speaking
and it gets cold and colder

someone is silent
and you wait
for the silence
to all ends
and further
and the word does not carry
and you do not know
where the light is
the light and dark

someone is walking
and you think
he is walking well
and you follow him
and keep up with him
and do not go mad

someone is walking
and you think he is walking softly
on soft soles
and you pluck the softness
and leave the hard
and the ice crunches
and you say I can’t hear it

Translation by Peter Lach-Newinsky