Songs On The Death Of Children

​     Now the sun wants to rise as brightly
     as if nothing terrible had happened during the night.

The misfortune had happened only to me,

​       But the sun shines equally on everyone.

​Now I see well, why with such dark flames
in many glances you flash upon me
O Eyes: as if in one look
to draw all your strength together.

You would tell me with your brightness:

​We would gladly stay with you!

I often think: they have only just gone out,
and now they will be coming back home.

​The day is fine, don't be dismayed,
They have just gone for a long walk.

Yes indeed, they have just gone out,
and now they are making their way home.

​Don't be dismayed, the day is fine,
they have simply made a journey to yonder heights.

​They have just gone out ahead of us,
and will not be thinking of coming home.

They rest as if in their mother's house:
frightened by no storm,
sheltered by the Hand of God.

You must not enfold the night in you.
You must sink it in eternal light.

   -  From Songs on the Death of Children by Friedrich Rückert