Min hvide svane
du stumme, du stille,
hverken slag eller trille
lod sangrøst ane.

Angst beskyttende
alfen, som sover,
altid lyttende
gled du henover.

Men sidste mødet,
da eder og øjne
var lønlige løgne,
ja da, da lød det!

I toners føden
du slutted din bane.
Du sang i døden;
du var dog en svane!

My swan, my silent one,
With white plumage,
Your delightful songs,
No trill betrayed.

Fearfully mindful of
The elves in the dell,
You glided, listening,
Always in circles.

And yet you forced
Our final parting
With false promises.
Yes, there, there you sang!

Singing, you closed
Your earthly course.
You died, faded away.
You were a swan nevertheless!

Translation from the German by C. Ersel King