Pride carries with it a certain enduring joy

 Crush me, twist me, keep me however you please…
 In that alone lies all my happiness!
 But never let the word of leaving cross your lips.
 'Separation' — such a heavy word! Nothing new there at all…
 I see nothing there but weariness and sorrow.
 I will never tire of loving you, loving you — mark my words. Test me if you wish.
 Do you think I'm threatening? Boasting of confidence in my love, or swagger…is that what you're thinking?
 …You're wrong. What you think — never that.
 The breath I came here needing, I know how much storm it can bring,
 I know this…I came here sensing this.
  
 To love, to keep love alive…clouds gather in the sky, storms come, rain falls…
 Then suddenly the sun breaks through…it never fails.
 I know all this very well!
 I've learned to swallow pain, I'm not one to retreat from fear of wounds. 
 Of course you can free yourself at will — do I have the strength to hold you, bind you!
 I only know how to love; the tricks of binding someone…those remain unknown to me still!
 I will love, go on loving, keep loving…I am not one to grow weary!
 Having dipped my knees in this river, I don't fear soaking my whole body — if fever comes…let fever come!
  
 Never tell me stories of heartbreak, I don't like such things.
 Tell me only stories of love, speak to me of tenderness…of drawing closer, of bonds of affection…
 Tell me stories of spending a lifetime gazing steadily into each other's eyes.
 Listen, can't you just keep me busy like this for a whole lifetime?
 If you do, all of life will pass in the blink of an eye!
 One must never speak of leaving the beloved…don't you understand these things?
 Then why do you say such things? Why must you show me the fear of abandonment?
 When I hear such words, I'm truly terrified!
 Never say such things again! Instead tell me, next time you come close, how much more you'll love me…
 Listen darling, next time you come near, will you let me love you a little more than all the love-debt of the past?
  
 Whether you'll love me tomorrow — I'll understand that tomorrow,
 I don't want all that advance understanding!
 Today I want only what belongs to today!
 In my house I've closed all accounts of future debts!
 Today will you give me, tell me, an ocean of joyful desire to love? Will you give me a whole world of stories to weave?
 Today let me do as I please…everything, more!
 The next always comes hand in hand with the present!
  
 What used to worry me before, you know?
 What to write you tomorrow…what to put in my letters!
 What anxiety consumed those first few days!
 I thought this, I thought that in my mind…not knowing if you received such rambling writing…
 You'd probably devour me alive and raw, or else laugh yourself to pieces!
 You know, I've just learned language, haven't even reached the alphabet yet,
 so where's my ability to write stories!
 Like a child's babble, day or night, just popping corn — that's about all!
  
 When you said laughing, write whatever you want…what force is there in writing anyway?
 It was like conquering a kingdom then! Now I see how easily so many words can be written!
 Once today's is written, tomorrow's comes of its own accord, taking my hand…
 My whole kingdom floats within you…
 Then does fear come? And if it does? It will only be swept away!
 Turn me inside out, upside down…lift me up, cast me down…love me well or poorly, I have no fear!
 Do whatever you wish, just let me love this love…
  
 You have such power…if you don't let me love well, then how can I love, tell me?
 Still don't say…I'll go, I'm going…I cannot bear such things…that work is too hard and harsh!
 Instead you…truly I'm saying this thoughtfully…just stay!
 Much has passed through the gap between these two pupils of mine, I don't want those things anymore…let them not return!
 At the end of this one life of mine, come only as cloud-breaking rain!
 As afternoon sunlight in the stars of my eyes,
 in the last watch of life's end…as the final moment of my last night, come only you!
 As the light of the morning star in this life's dawn sky,
 or as an afternoon's rest after evening's weariness — come only you!
 Living without you…is nothing else…like a cage without a heart!
  
 My whole life will pass…just getting to know you,
 I'll spend a thousand moments learning to read the language of your eyes,
 I'll traverse the whole path in clouds of your chest's fragrance without any want!
 You might wonder…why do I want to hide only in your chest…
 If you gather all the kingdom's love there,
 then where else can I go?
  
 Sometimes, you really want to know…what do I want?
 Listen, I'm telling you — for this whole lifetime may this me remain only foolish before you!
 May the day end just in trying to understand you…
 What more does a person want in one life, tell me?
 Every day you say to yourself, hey, why are you so crazy?
 Be still, write slowly, speak gently, move with composure!
 Thinking of you every moment, how restless I remain…if you keep me
 intoxicated like this all the time…then how can I stay still!
  
 You don't understand my hurt feelings, don't understand my anger, don't understand my pain…you understand nothing of mine!
 To hear a word from you, for one phone call from you…
 I have to wait a thousand years…you don't understand me at all!