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Proximity of the Beloved One by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Analysis

"Proximity of the Beloved One" is a love poem by Goethe. He speaks of how he misses his love and wishes she were near him now and dreams of her being near. The title can also be translated to "Nearness of the Beloved One" or "Love's Nearness".

"Proximity of the Beloved One" consists of four stanzas with four lines each. Each stanza can also be divided up into couplets where the first line is much longer than the second. This helps set the rhythm of the writing along with giving the author more control of the reader's thoughts.

Poem

Proximity of the Beloved One
By 

I think of thee, whene'er the sun his beams
O'er ocean flings;
I think of thee, whene'er the moonlight gleams
In silv'ry springs.

I see thee, when upon the distant ridge
The dust awakes;
At midnight's hour, when on the fragile bridge
The wanderer quakes.

I hear thee, when yon billows rise on high,
With murmur deep.
To tread the silent grove oft wander I,
When all's asleep.

I'm near thee, though thou far away mayst be--
Thou, too, art near!
The sun then sets, the stars soon lighten me.
Would thou wert here!

Written in 1795.

Below is the original German text.

Nähe des Geliebten


Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer
vom Meere strahlt;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
In Quellen malt.

Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
Der Staub sich hebt;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
Der Wandrer bebt.

Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
Die Welle steigt.
Im stillen Haine geh' ich oft zu lauschen,
Wenn alles schweigt.

Ich bin bei dir; du seist auch noch so ferne,
Du bist mir nah!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
O, wärst du da!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Next: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

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Nationality
German

Literary Movement
Weimar Classicism, 18th Century

Subjects
Love, Dream