Bertolt Brecht
The Mask Of Evil
On my wall hangs a Japanese carving, The mask of an evil demon, decorated with gold lacquer. Sympathetically I observe The swollen veins of the forehead, indicating What a strain it is to be
Questions From A Worker Who Reads
Who built Thebes of the seven gates? In the books you will find the names of kings. Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock? And Babylon, many times demolished Who raised it
Ich habe dich nie je so geliebt
[Original] Ich habe dich nie je so geliebt, ma soeur Als wie ich fortging von dir in jenem Abendrot. Der Wald schluckte mich, der blaue Wald, ma soeur Über dem immer schon die bleichen
To read in the morning and at night
Morgens und abends zu lesen Der, den ich liebe Hat mir gesagt DaЯ er mich braucht. Darum Gebe ich auf mich acht Sehe auf meinen Weg und Fürchte von jedem Regentropfen DaЯ er mich
What Has Happened?
The industrialist is having his aeroplane serviced. The priest is wondering what he said in his sermon eight weeks ago About tithes. The generals are putting on civvies and looking like bank clerks. Public
I Never Loved You More
I never loved you more, ma soeur Than as I walked away from you that evening. The forest swallowed me, the blue forest, ma soeur The blue forest and above it pale stars in
On Reading A Recent Greek Poet
After the wailing had already begun Along the walls, their ruin certain, The Trojans fidgeted with bits of wood In the three-ply doors, itsy-bitsy Pieces of wood, fussing with them. And began to get
Kinderhymne (Children's Hymn)
[original] Anmut sparet nicht noch Mьhe Leidenschaft nicht noch Verstand DaЯ ein gutes Deutschland blьhe Wie ein andres gutes Land DaЯ die Vцlker nicht erbleichen Wie vor einer Rдuberin Sondern ihre Hдnde reichen Uns
On The Critical Attitude
The critical attitude Strikes many people as unfruitful That is because they find the state Impervious to their criticism But what in this case is an unfruitful attitude Is merely a feeble attitude. Give
How Fortunate The Man With None
You saw sagacious Solomon You know what came of him, To him complexities seemed plain. He cursed the hour that gave birth to him And saw that everything was vain. How great and wise
From A German War Primer
AMONGST THE HIGHLY PLACED It is considered low to talk about food. The fact is: they have Already eaten. The lowly must leave this earth Without having tasted Any good meat. For wondering where
I want to go with the one I love
[Original] Ich will mit dem gehen, den ich liebe. Ich will nicht ausrechnen, was es kostet. Ich will nicht nachdenken, ob es gut ist. Ich will nicht wissen, ob er mich liebt. Ich will
O Germany, Pale Mother!
Let others speak of her shame, I speak of my own. O Germany, pale mother! How soiled you are As you sit among the peoples. You flaunt yourself Among the besmirched. The poorest of
Send Me A Leaf
Send me a leaf, but from a bush That grows at least one half hour Away from your house, then You must go and will be strong, and I Thank you for the pretty
To Those Born After
To the cities I came in a time of disorder That was ruled by hunger. I sheltered with the people in a time of uproar And then I joined in their rebellion. That’s how
My young son asks me
My young son asks me: Must I learn mathematics? What is the use, I feel like saying. That two pieces Of bread are more than one’s about all you’ll end up with. My young
To Posterity
Indeed I live in the dark ages! A guileless word is an absurdity. A smooth forehead betokens A hard heart. He who laughs Has not yet heard The terrible tidings. Ah, what an age
The Solution
After the uprising of the 17th June The Secretary of the Writers Union Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee Stating that the people Had forfeited the confidence of the government And could win it
Alabama Song
Show me the way to the next whisky bar Oh, don’t ask why, oh, don’t ask why Show me the way to the next whisky bar Oh, don’t ask why, oh, don’t ask why
To Be Read In The Morning And At Night
My love Has told me That he needs me. That’s why I take good care of myself Watch out where I’m going and Fear that any drop of rain Might kill me.
Radio Poem
You little box, held to me escaping So that your valves should not break Carried from house to house to ship from sail to train, So that my enemies might go on talking to
To The Students Of The Workers' And Peasants' Faculty
So there you sit. And how much blood was shed That you might sit there. Do such stories bore you? Well, don’t forget that others sat before you Who later sat on people. Keep
United Front Song
And because a man is human He’ll want to eat, and thanks a lot But talk can’t take the place of meat Or fill an empty pot. So left, two, three! So left, two,
Parting
We embrace. Rich cloth under my fingers While yours touch poor fabric. A quick embrace You were invited for dinner While the minions of law are after me. We talk about the weather and
Mack The Knife
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them pearly white. Just a jack knife has Macheath, dear And he keeps it out of sight. When the shark bites with his teeth,
Contemplating Hell
Contemplating Hell, as I once heard it, My brother Shelley found it to be a place Much like the city of London. I, Who do not live in London, but in Los Angeles, Find,
Solidarity Song
Peoples of the world, together Join to serve the common cause! So it feeds us all for ever See to it that it’s now yours. Forward, without forgetting Where our strength can be seen
Not What Was Meant
When the Academy of Arts demanded freedom Of artistic expression from narrow-minded bureaucrats There was a howl and a clamour in its immediate vicinity But roaring above everything Came a deafening thunder of applause