You with the dark eyes
That are as lovely as the stars,
Shall I suck death for myself
From their cool radiance?
In vain I cast my glance
Out into all the great distance,
Ah, I think of you so much
And you never think of me.

Deep in the night of anguish,
In desolate darknesses,
I toss and turn without slumber,
For I am not permitted to be with you.
My volition, pondering, knowing
I sink into the sea of love --
Ah, I think of you so much
And you never think of me.

All my senses surge
Toward you, toward you mightily,
The blaze of fervent yearning
Flutters through my bones.
My couch is wet
With unstoppable tears --
Ah, I think of you so much
And you never think of me.

When I think about you
Alone at night,
It pierces my soul
Like bright moonlight;
It pierces my soul
Like lovely harp music,
And feels as though I have never
Felt so much joy. 

My heart is like a tiny ring
Of pure, golden glass,
You are a shimmering pearl
Set within it.
And like a pearl set in gold,
You sparkle there,
And, in turn, clasp me
Securely within your heart.

Oh, I thank God for you, dearest heart,
A thousand thousand times over,
As many as there are violets blooming
Deep in the valley at Easter!
As many as there are violets blooming,
Is how often I think of you;
It pierces my soul
Like bright moonlight.

Far, far from distant times,
From the green wilderness of youth
I am greeted in joy and in sorrow
By a wondrous image.
  Well do I know
  The glow of the lips
  That were wont to exchange caresses with me,
  The eyes so lovely,
  The gold of the curls,
  The pale roses of the cheeks.
For though in strife and pain
No breath of youth remain:
Never does the heart forget 
The dream of first love.

Long after the day's strife,
When the stars come aglow in their clarity,
First love accompanies me faithfully
In all nearness and distance.
  When at night I lay
  Keeping watch,
  It stood with me at the fire,
  I travelled onward
  Over the blue ocean
  And saw it resting at the helm.
For though in strife and pain
No breath of youth remain:
Never does the heart forget 
The dream of first love.

As quietly as a shy child
Thus does first love gaze at me through tears,
Gently it wishes to lean
Its curls against my shoulder.
  It beckons so lovingly,
  It sings so gloomily
  Of times that have passed;
  Thereupon my spirit melts
  Away in homesickness,
  I am ensnared forevermore.
For though in strife and pain
No breath of youth remain:
Never does the heart forget 
The dream of first love.