Königsberg 1945

My city is wrecked

Surrounded, besieged...

And yet I'm here

My path is clear:

To hold out till the end.

My salvation calls me

From over the ice--

A boat at Pillau:

A lovely, long-dream'd-of boat,

Rich with the wonder of the sea..

But I will never reach it.

I laugh with the madness

Of deep-submerg'd despair.