The Bonfire

Sitting beside the Bonfire,
In this chilly winter night,
Looking at my funeral pyre,
Thinking! How thy sleeping in this light?

Ashes beside me all over,
Gray and black like my life.
Colours are all gone, my dear,
Like the smoke from the fire.

Still! My mind wonders, my dear,
In this chilly winter night,
Looking at my funeral pyre,
Thinking! How thy sleeping in this light?

All can be seen in this light, my dear,
But no, not my lonesome heart.
I know thou lonely too, my dear,
But thou with my pyre's light.

Awake my dear, awake from thy sleep,
Awake to love and to relive.
And have a woman's constant heart to keep,
Love that life has to give.

And if thou have reasons to sleep,
Awake my dear, awake from thy sleep.
Awake for my lonesome heart, my dear,
Or awake to light the bonfire.