16. Last Hope

Here and there on the trees
There?s a colored leaf to be seen.
And I stop in front of the trees
Often, lost in thought.
I watch a particular leaf
And pin my hopes on it;
If the wind plays with my leaf
I tremble from head to foot.
Oh, and if the leaf falls to earth,
My hopes fall along with it.
I fall to earth as well
And weep on the grave of my hopes.

Winterreise by Wilhelm Muller
music by Franz Schubert Op. 89