Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LIFE'S JOURNEY by HEINRICH HEINE

First Line: WHAT LAUGHTER AND SINGING! THE SUN'S RAYS CROSSING
Last Line: HOW HEAVY MY HEART! MY HOME HOW FAR!
Subject(s): DISASTERS; SHIPWRECKS;

WHAT laughter and singing! The sun's rays crossing
Each other gleam brightly; the billows are tossing
The joyous bark, and there I reclined
With friends beloved and lightsome mind.

The bark was presently wreck'd and shatter'd,
My friends were poor swimmers, and soon were scatter'd,
And all were drown'd, in our fatherland;
@3I@1 was thrown by the storm on the Seine's far strand

Another ship I now ascended,
My journey by new companions attended;
By strange waves toss'd and rock'd, I depart --
How far my home! how heavy my heart!

Once more arises that singing and laughter!
The wind pipes loud, the planks crack soon after --
In heaven is quench'd the last last star --
How heavy my heart! My home how far!



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