German-English Translation – Poetry

Rilke – the German original

English translation:

“To be said when going to sleep”
I’d like to sing someone to sleep,
to sit and be right next to them. 
I’d like to cradle and gently lull you,
and accompany you sleep-in, sleep-out.
I’d like to be the only one at home
who knows: the night is cold.
And would like to listen within and without,
into you, the world, the woods.
The clocks, striking, call out to each other
and we can see to the bottom of time.
And down below there’s a stranger
stirring up someone else’s dog.
Beyond, silence begins. I have wrapped
my gaze around you;
and it holds you gently and lets go of you
when something moves in the dark.