Lord, I Want to Return

Kurt Wolfskehl

1934

Lord, I want to return to your word,
Lord, I want to pour out my wine,
Lord, I want to go, to go to you,
Lord, I do not know what should be done,
I am alone.
I am alone in empty air,
In terror of myself, alone at heart,
All my gay balloons are wan and slack,
All my wisdom chaff and spray,
I am poor. Come back!
Lean as to my fathers, Lord, or…
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Creator Bio

Kurt Wolfskehl

1869–1948

Born in Darmstadt, Germany, into a banking family, the poet Karl Wolfskehl was the sole Jewish member of the circle that worshiped the charismatic lyric poet Stefan George. The circle, which included outspoken ultranationalists, met at Wolfskehl’s Munich house from 1899 to 1932. When Hitler came to power, Wolfskehl moved to Italy, but in 1938 he settled permanently in New Zealand. After he left Germany, Jewish themes became central to his work.

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