KarlMarxEARLYLITERARYEXPERIMENTS
FROMTHEALBUMSOFPOEMSDEDICATED
TOJENNYVONWESTPHALEN[1]
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FromtheBOOKOFLOVE（PartI）[2]
CONCLUDINGSONNETSTOJENNY
I
Takeall，takeallthesesongsfrommeThatLoveatyourfeethumblylays，Where，intheLyre’sfullmelody，Soulfreelynearsinshiningrays。
Oh！ifSong’sechopotentbeTostirtolongingwithsweetlays，TomakethepulsethrobpassionatelyThatyourproudheartsublimelysways，ThenshallIwitnessfromafarHowVictorybearsyoulightalong，ThenshallIfight，moreboldbyfar，Thenshallmymusicsoarthehigher；
Transformed，morefreeshallringmysong，AndinsweetwoeshallweepmyLyre。
II
Tome，noFameterrestrialThattravelsfarthroughlandandnationToholdthemthrillinglyinthrallWithitsfar—flungreverberationIsworthyoureyes，whenshiningfull，Yourheart，whenwarmwithexultation，Ortwodeep—wellingtearsthatfall，Wrungfromyoureyesbysong’semotion。
GladlyI’dbreathemySoulawayIntheLyre’sdeepmelodioussighs，AndwouldaveryMasterdie，CouldItheexaltedgoalattain，CouldIbutwinthefairestprize——
Tosootheinyoubothjoyandpain。
III
Ah！Nowthesepagesforthmayfly，Approachyou，trembling，onceagain，MyspiritsloweredutterlyByfoolishfearsandparting’spain。
Myself—deludingfanciesstrayAlongtheboldestpathsinvain；
IcannotwinwhatismostHigh，Andsoonnomorehopeshallremain。
WhenIreturnfromdistantplacesTothatdearhome，filledwithdesire，Aspouseholdsyouinhisembraces，Andclaspsyouproudly，FairestOne。
Theno’ermerollsthelightning’sfireOfmiseryandoblivion。
IV
Forgivethat，boldlyriskingscornTheSoul’sdeepyearningtoconfess，Thesinger’slipsmusthotlyburnTowafttheflamesofhisdistress。
CanIagainstmyselfthenturnAndlosemyself，dumb，comfortless，Theverynameofsingerspurn，Notloveyou，havingseenyourface？
SohightheSoul’sillusionsaspire，O’ermeyoustandmagnificent；
’TisbutyourtearsthatIdesire，AndthatmysongsyouonlyenjoyedTolendthemgraceandornament；
ThenmaytheyfleeintotheVoid！
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FromtheBOOKOFSONGS[3]
TOJENNY
I
Words——lies，hollowshadows，nothingmore，GrowdingLifefromallsidesround！
Inyou，deadandtired，mustIoutpourSpiritsthatinmeabound？
YetEarth’senviousGodshavescannedbeforeHumanfirewithgazeprofound；
AndforevermusttheEarthlingpoorMatehisbosom’sglowwithsound。
For，ifpassionleapedup，vibrant，bold，IntheSoul’ssweetradiance，Daringlyitwouldyourworldsenfold，Woulddethroneyou，wouldbringyoudownlow，WouldoutsoartheZephyr—dance。
Ripeaworldaboveyouthenwouldgrow。