Louise Labe
Sonnet XIV
As long as I can sit with streaming eyes
And want to spend another hour with you;
As long as I can stifle sobs and sighs
And use my voice to get a message through;
As long as I’ve a hand can tune the strings
Of my guitar, to sing a song of you;
As long as I’ve no heart for other things
But only want to get the hang of you:
There’s no way I’ll be lying down to die.
No, but the day I feel my eyes run dry,
My voice crack up, my hand with zero power,
My heart, too close to earth, no longer giving
Signals that lovers give: then, I’ll quit living . . .
Death, turn my daylight black, that very hour!
Translated by Timothy Ades
Page(s) 112
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