“Lying in Grass” by Herman Hesse
and translated by James Wright

In this everything now, the quick delusions of flowers,
The soft blue spread of heaven, the bees’ song,
Is this everything only a god’s counting dream,
The cry of unconscious powers for deliverance?
The distant line of the mountain,
That beautifully and courageously nests in the blue,
Is this too only a convulsion,
Only the wild strain of fermenting nature,
Only grief, only agony, only meaningless fumbling,
Never resting, never a blessed movement?
No! Leave me alone, you impure dream
Of the world in suffering!
The dance of tiny insects cradles you in an evening radiance,
The bird’s cry cradles you,
A breath of wind cools my forehead
With consolation,
Leave me alone; you unendurably old human grief!
Let it all be pain,
Let it all be suffering, let it be wretched---
But not this one sweet hour in the summer,
And not the fragrance of the red clover,
And not the deep tender pleasure
In my soul.

“One Step at a Time”

“How can I go on?” I cried,
When I saw the hill to climb
“Dear Child,” the Master said,
“Take one step at a time.”

As I placed my hand in His
And we went along the way,
The road became much smoother
As we traveled day by day.

So, Friend, If you come to a hill,
Take the hand of the Master sublime,
And do as He suggested -
“Take one step at a time.”

Sex is in the head psychologists construe.
Then, where, oh, where is my orgasmic shampoo!
And if your bald head shines like new,
Do I chastice, or humor you?!