Job's Closing Words
I heard Lyn Coffin reading her translations of czech poet Jiri Orten in Detroit around 1980,
and bought the book.  This one rhymed and I put it to music.  Orten died during the nazi
occupation of Prague at the age of 22.
for the pain of hands which could not touch to caress
give me faith     give me belief
your escape into the night was much too abrupt
leave slowly     not like a thief

for the pain of a soul completely destroyed by the love that left
let me sleep all right
burn down my creations     let them die and lie
don't allow even one to survive the night

for the pain of the throat which sang so long     sang one pain higher
let me expire
let me finish     die out with this song
which is burning solemnly in the fire