Oppressive Light

Oppressive Light
by R. Walser
Two trees stand in the snow,
the sky, tired of light,
moves home, and nothing else
but gloom close by.
And behind the trees
dark houses tower up.
Now you hear something said,
now dogs begin to bay.
And the dear, round lamp-
moon appears in the house.
And the light goes out again,
as a wound yawns open.
How small life is here
and how big nothingness.
The sky, tired of light,
has given everything to the snow.
The two trees bow
their heads to each other.
Clouds cross the world’s
silence in a circle dance.