Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WANDERER, by FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WANDERER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: There goes a wanderer through the night
Last Line: The piteous, piteous wanderer!
Subject(s): Wandering & Wanderers


THERE goes a wanderer through the night
With lusty gait;
The crooked valley and the height
Upon him wait.
Blithe is the night—
He stands not still, he strides abroad,
He seeketh out his unknown road.

There sings a bird through the night;
"Ah, bird, thou hast me in despite!
Why dost thou hold my thought, my feet,
Pourest heart's languishing so sweet
Into my ear, so that I need
Listen and heed—
Why dost thou tempt me, dost thou greet?"

The gentle bird was dumb and said:
"Nay, wanderer, nay! Be comforted;
My voice is rife
To tempt anear a little wife—
What is't to thee?
Alone is night not fair to me.
What is't to thee? So were it best
Thou go, and never, never rest!
Why stay'st thou yet?
How should my mellow music stir
Thee, wanderer?"

The gentle bird was dumb and thought:
How should my flute-song tell him aught?
He does not stir—
The piteous, piteous wanderer!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net