If instead of being hanged by the neck br you're thrown inside br for not giving up hope br in the world, your country, your people, br if you do ten or fifteen years br apart from the time you have left, br you won't say, br "Better I had swung from the end of a rope br like a flag" -- br You'll put your foot down and live. br It may not be a pleasure exactly, br but it's your solemn duty br to live one more day br to spite the enemy. br Part of you may live alone inside, br like a tone at the bottom of a well. br But the other part br must be so caught up br in the flurry of the world br that you shiver there inside br when outside, at forty days' distance, a leaf moves. br To wait for letters inside, br to sing sad songs, br or to lie awake all night staring at the ceiling br is sweet but dangerous. br Look at your face from shave to shave, br forget your age, br watch out for lice br and for spring nights, br and always remember br to eat every last piece of bread-- br also, don't forget to laugh heartily. br And who knows, br the woman you love may stop loving you. br Don't say it's no big thing: br it's like the snapping of a green branch br to the man inside. br To think of roses and gardens inside is bad, br to think of seas and mountains is good. br Read and write without rest, br and I also advise weaving br and making mirrors. br I mean, it's not that you can't pass br ten or fifteen years inside br and more -- br you can, br as long as the jewel br on the left side of your chest doesn't lose it's luster! br br May 1949 br br br Trans.