Living

Auto-da-Fé

by Heinrich Heine 1797–1856

Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1908) · From Romancero: Book II. Lamentations

Living

See these violets, dusty tresses,
And this faded ribbon blue,
Long forgotten cherish’d trifles,
And these half-torn billets-doux,--

All, with angry look and gesture
In the blazing fire I throw;
Sadly crackle up these relics
Of my happiness and woe.

Vows of love, and fond deceiving
Broken oaths all upwards fly
In the chimney, while in secret
Cupid laughs maliciously.

Dreamily beside the fireplace
Sit I, while the sparkles bright
Glow in silence midst the ashes,--
So farewell! good night! good night!

MLA

Heine, Heinrich. “Auto-da-Fé.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/516/.

Chicago

Heine, Heinrich. “Auto-da-Fé.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/516/.

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