Sleep my child! My baby, bye-bye! Accumulate much strength! Do you want to sleep? Rest, Keep smiling - and sleep! The lullaby softens The strange racket. May you dream in your sleep, That the whole world is asleep. The world is below and you are above it In the sweet sleep you float: There is Moscow, the ancient Rome And the nightly Paris. And with you in unison The voices sing, - Indeed, it’s only a dream, But sleeping - you are growing. Maybe, everything maybe: You’ll some time In reality recapitulate This path. You’ll fly over the earth Above roofs and treetops, - Until now you’re sleeping deeply - Look your dream to the end.
© Elisabeth Jelinek. Translation, 2018