Shapes of death haunt life, br Neurosis eclipsing each in special shadow: br Unrequited love not solving br One’s need to become another’s body br Wears black invisibility: br The greed for property br Heaps a skyscraper over the breathing ribs: br The speedlines of dictators br Cut their own stalks: br From afar, we watch the best of us – br Whose adored desire was to die for the world. br br Ambition is my death. That flat thin flame br I feed, that plants my shadow. This prevents love br And offers love of being loved or loving. br The humorous self-forgetful drunkenness br It hates, demands the slavish pyramids br Be built. Who can prevent br His death’s industry, which when he sleeps br Throws up its towers? And conceals in slackness br The dreams of revolution, the birth of death? br br Also the swallows by autumnal instinct br Comfort us with their effortless exhaustion br In great unguided flight to their complete South. br There on my fancied pyramids they lodge br But for delight, their whole compulsion. br Not teaching me to love, but soothing my eyes; br Not saving me from death, but saving me for speech.