| Also sei ich selbst, und also mein Gedicht, | I am, and also my poem is, |
| Also sei ich selbst, und also mein Gedicht, | I am, and also my poem is, |
| Wie die Stechpalm’ unten rauh von Blättern sticht, | like the holly, stinging harshly from under the leaves |
| Wo das Vieh sie wollte nagen; | where the livestock want to gnaw at, |
| Aber oben stechen ihre Blätter nicht, | but on the upper side the leaves do not sting, |
| Um mit Schaukeln Himmelslüfte, Frühlingslicht, | here there is the swaying of the sky air, spring light |
| Oder Vogelsang zu tragen. | or birdsong. |