The Other Man (translated from German)

Franz Hohler, Der Andere, Luchterhand, 1988
translator Veronika Bond, literary translator,
editor Joshua Bond, poet


And suddenly
after many years
he stands there
the other man
looks at her
the one who belongs to you
he draws her towards him
and she waves to you
from the distance
and calls
I’ll be back
and you wish her luck
because she deserves him
the other man
and the feeling
you know so well
the feeling of trembling
that first touch with a stranger
the feeling
you have felt many times before
asking for understanding
from the one who belongs to you
and you have always granted it to her
recommended even
because it makes you
whole as a human
and now
as she
seizes
at last
what she is entitled to
you stay behind
and can’t believe
how much you love her
and how much it hurts
and how the tears come
while walking across the square
and sitting in the train
after all, you believed
you’re open minded
in command
magnanimous
but now you walk around
unable
to think of anything else
except her
and the other man
and her freedom
is your prison
and you don’t eat anymore
and you don’t sleep anymore
and there is
just one message
inside you
which says
Oh
please come back
my beloved
and stay with me
I want to hold you
until the end of time.