Haus überm Meer [English translation]

A house across the sea

What drew me here?

Memory paints long lasting shadows

I open the door,

there you stand before me

and with you the times we had

But I wanted never to see you again

The memory still causes pain

As quietly you speak,

I can barely hear you

and yet I can understand you

You say only “forgive (me)”

After such a long time,

at that, I should simply forgive you?

You don’t know, what you ask there

I know only, that I cannot do that

Your time is past

I have survived (you)

it is better for you

if you leave at once

You have no power over me anymore

The house across the sea

I close the door

and I paint/sweep you out of my life

For me you are dead

with that I am fine

I have stopped tormenting myself

And I will never see you again

The memory will soon fade away

I was back home, then someone called:

“Have you heard yet what happened to him?”

The doctors could do nothing more for him.

I met him beforehand

in the house above the sea

I have seen him in person

I should forgive him

but I said no

I wish I had forgiven him

The house across the sea

is finally empty

The house across the sea

that is there no longer