Caught In A Web (English Ballade) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Heinrich Heine)

He thought that their love was something deep
where as a thief at first he stole her heart,
off her feet time and again he did her sweep
while he was excellent at his criminal art.

chorus:
She was a tramp but with beauty did the eye fill
and he was far too good at his ill-begotten craft,
took too far to killing his deadly skill
where she at every incident just did laugh.

For a time their lives were full of only joy
while everything that she desired he gave
and to her he was like a prince of a boy
where he left with a kiss and a wave.

At a time his deeds of the past
caught up with him and to jail he went,
the authorities was happy to hang him at last
and a last request with tears to her he sent:

Come to me before it's too late
he begged and did her miss badly
and in vain did upon his darling wait
while as if in joy she acted gladly.

At daybreak his time on earth went by,
while away from him with a drink she did him toast
but they hanged him high under an azure sky
where to death he swung on the hangman'\s post.

[Poet's note:"Ein Weib" by Heinrich Heine.]
© Gert Strydom