Günter Eich
The Rain’s Messages
(Botschaften des Regens)
News, that’s meant for me
shaken from rain to rain
scattering across slates and tiles
spreads like a virus, like unwelcome
contraband -
Across the wall the windowpanes
rattle their alphabets
and the rain speaks
in the language I thought
only I could understand -
the rain sends
its despairing bulletins
the rain radios misery
and falls blaming, recriminating
as if of all people
I should be held accountable
Let me say this as clearly as I can
I’m not afraid of the rain
or its accusations
nor of whoever sent them
When the time is right, and only then
I’ll go outside and answer him
version by The Cat Flap
