The summer mingles in our lifes,

River Elbe's low tide flows
out to Northern sea

and not a single breath of wind
is ruffling waves.

Until the next high tide helps

big ships imitate

a storm on the streaming waters,

let waves run onto shores

while we sit on watch, eating crabs -

freshly caught that very morning.

The scattered crumbs being collected

on the bottom floor

by lively sparrows -

this time they win -

while seagulls screaming “hunger”

in higher regions,

doing prayers:

Let us become little sparrows.