It’s certainly late.  I must earn something. 
But they’re all going right by today with smug expressions on their
faces. 
They don’t want to give me a single good-luck penny. 
It’s a miserable life. 
If I come home without money
The old lady will throw me out. 
There is hardly anyone on the street any more. 
I am dead tired and freezing. 
I was never so miserable in my life. 
I move around here like a piece of meat. 
Finally someone comes over: 
An extremely well-dressed man—­
But in this life one can’t tell much
By appearances. 
He’s also quite older. (they have more money,
Young ones tend to cheat you.)
We are face-to-face. 
I raise my clothes above the knee. 
I can get away with that. 
That’s the big draw.. 
Like flies to the light
The guys are drawn to us goats... 
The John is certainly standing over there. 
He is staring.  He winks.  Now I’ll go right by him... 
I think:  he will give me a big piece of gold. 
Then I get drunk in secret on expensive liquor,
That’s still the best:  sometime—­alone
To be drunk quietly, for myself—­
Or I can buy new shoes... 
I won’t have to go around in mended socks—­
Or... sometime I won’t go out walking the streets. 
And take a rest from the guys—­
Or...  I’m already looking forward to this... 
I’m so happy—­
Here comes Kitty. 
And scares the man off.

The Drunkard

One must guard oneself ever so carefully against
Howling, without any reason, like an animal. 
Against pouring beer over the faces of all the waiters,
And kicking them in their faces. 
Against shortening the disgusting time
Spent lying in a gutter. 
Against throwing oneself off a bridge. 
Against hitting friends in the mouth. 
Against suddenly, while dogs bark,
Tearing the clothes off a well-fed body. 
Against hurling into any old beloved woman’s
Thighs one’s dark skull.

A Lieutenant General Sings

I am the Division Commander,
His Excellency. 
I have attained what is humanly possible. 
A lovely consciousness. 
In front of me
Important people and chiefs of regiments
Bend their knees,
And my generals
Obey my commands. 
God willing, my next command will be
An entire military corps. 
Women, drama, music
Do not interest me much. 
Compared to parades and battles,
That does not amount to much. 
Would that there were an endless war
With bloody, howling winds. 
Ordinary life
Has no charm for me.

Falling in the River

Drunk, Lene Levi walked
In the neighboring streets nightly
Back and forth, screaming, “auto.” 
Her blouse was opened,
So that one saw her fine, fascinating
Underclothing and skin. 
Seven horny little men ran
After Lene.