Life Terrifies Me

by Endre Ady

Life Terrifies Me 

Holy ecstasy-swans on great glad Waters

Seize me, but in vain.

I hear the gaggling of sensible ganders,

Nothing can remain,

There is nothing to last.

I hear my future faltering sobs

When I'm still smiling,

And when dark ravens are cawing in my soul

A chirpy starling

Will cheerily chime in.

My longings frighten me. Fulfilment follows

And I'll feel defiled.

I dread contentment. Behind it storms the steed

Of passion, the Wild.

Oh, life terrifies me. 

Longing For Love 

Neither the issue nor the sire,

neither fulfilment nor desire

am I for anyone,

am I for anyone. 

I am as all men, the sunless sea,

the alien thule, mystery,

a fleeing wisp of light,

a fleeing wisp of light. 

But I must look for friends and brothers;

I want to show myself to others

that seeing they will see,

that seeing they will see. 

For this my lyric masochism;

I long to close the gaping schism,

and thus belong somewhere,

and thus belong somewhere. 

I Guard Your Eyes

With my old man's wrinkled hand, 

with my old man's squinting eyes, 

let me hold your lovely hand, 

let me guard your lovely eyes. 

Worlds have tumbled, through their fall 

like a wild beast chased by fright 

I came, and I on you did call 

scared, I wait with you inside. 

With my old man's wrinkled hand, 

with my old man's squinting eyes, 

let me hold your lovely hand, 

let me guard your lovely eyes. 

I do not know why, how long 

can I thus remain for you - 

but I hold your lovely hand 

and I guard your lovely eyes.