Steen Steensen Blicher: 'Præludium'

Prelude

The time approaches for me to part!

Now winter's voice is compelling;

A bird of passage I know my heart

In other climes has its dwelling.

I have long known that I cannot stay;

This does not cause any grieving,

So free from care as I wend my way

I sing at times before leaving.

I should at times have perhaps sung more –

Or should perhaps have sung better;

But dark days crowded oft to the fore,

And gales my feathers did scatter.

In God's fair world I would fain have tried

To spread my wings out in freedom;

But I'm imprisoned on every side

And can't escape from my thralldom.

From lofty skies I would have fain have tried

To blithely sing and not fretted;

But for my shelter and food must bide

A jailbird poor and indebted.

At times I make the consoling choice

To let my gaze outward wander:

And sometimes send my poor mournful voice

Through prison bars yearning yonder.

Then listen, traveller, to this song;

To pass this way please endeavour!

It might, God knows, not last very long

Before this voice fades for ever.

This coming evening, I can foretell,

May see my prison bars breaking;

For I will sing now a fond farewell,

Perhaps my final leave-taking.