Questions of a reading worker (Brecht) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Who built seven-doored Thebes?
In the books are the names of kings.
Did the kings haul the rocks?
And Babylon, many times destroyed-
who built it up these many times?  In which houses
of golden-gleaming Lima did the construction
workers live?

In the evening, 
when the Chinese wall was finished, 
where did the masons go? 
The great Rome is full of triumphal arches.
Who erected them?  
Who did the caesars triumph over?

Did the many-sung Byzantium 
have only palaces for its inhabitants?
Even in legendary Atlantis, 
the night the sea vanquished it, 
did the drowning cry for their slaves.

The young Alexander conquered India.
He alone?
Caesar defeated the gauls.
Didn't he have at least a cook with him?
Philip of Spain cried after his fleet had sunk. 
Did no one else cry?

Frederick the Second was victorious in the Seven Year war.
Who won besides him?
Every page a victory.
Who cooked the victory feast?
Every ten years a great man.
Who paid his expenses?

So many reports.
So many questions.

Authorship

Knut W. Barde

Please contact the copyright-holder when requesting permission to reprint.

Based on

text

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

Text added to the website: 2006-04-07.

Notes about green, red, and white dots

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