Die a Social Death                   

I may say

what I want,

but can I?

I can say

what I want,

but do I?

I do say

what I want,

but may I?

Or will I die

a social death,

if I try?

Der soziale Tod³²                

Ich darf sagen                               

was ich will,

aber kann ich?

Ich kann sagen

was ich will,

aber tue ich’s?³³

Ich sage schon

was ich will,

aber darf ich?³⁴

Oder sterbe ich

einen sozialen Tod

beim Versuch?³⁵

³² This poem questions social conventions and a person’s right to speak the truth despite others’ expectations.

³³ The wordplay here accentuates the different forms of verbs that signify possible courses of action or protest, as well as employing repetition. The first verse touches upon what is « legally » possible and uses « darf » or « may. » The second verse indicates the hesitation of a person, who considers the social consequences of speaking the truth.

³⁴ The third verse deals with the option of speaking up, even if it is not considered a viable (or legal) option.

³⁵ And the fourth verse comes full circle in outlining the possibly « fatal » consequences of speaking one’s mind, when it is not considered socially acceptable. In the English version, this is the only stanza which happens to rhyme, quite by chance, whereby the repetitive « I » in the previous verses ties into this rhyme.