All Quiet on All Quiet on the Western the Western

FrontFront

go off and go off and once or twice. I would once or twice. I would recognize them at any recognize them at any distance. Then distance. Then disappear. sit down on disappear. sit down on my and wait.my and wait.

TheyThey

IIpackpack

theythey

wavewave

Suddenly I become filled Suddenly I become filled with a with a to beto be gone.gone.

consuming impatienceconsuming impatience

The names of the The names of the stations begin to stations begin to take on meaning and take on meaning and my trembles. my trembles. The stamps and The stamps and stamps onward. stamps onward.

hearthearttraintrain

A - . A - . by the , by the , I I myself away.myself away.

streetstreet croscrossingsingwindowwindow

cannotcannotI standI stand

dragdrag

I repeat to myself the name of I repeat to myself the name of the street that we cross over-the street that we cross over-Bremerstrasse- -Bremerstrasse- -BremerstrasseBremerstrasse

It is a grey and a It is a grey and a grey ;-it affects grey ;-it affects me as though it were my me as though it were my mother.mother.

streetstreetsubwaysubway

MotherMother

Then the train stops, Then the train stops, and t is the station and t is the station with and and with and and signboards. I pick up my signboards. I pick up my pack and fasten the s pack and fasten the s I take my in my I take my in my hand and hand and the steps.the steps.

noisenoise criescriesherehere

rifleriflestumblestumble downdown

trapstraps

A offers me A offers me something to drink. I turn something to drink. I turn away, she smiles at me too away, she smiles at me too foolishly, so obsessed with foolishly, so obsessed with her own importance: “Just her own importance: “Just look, I am giving a soldier look, I am giving a soldier !”-She calls !”-She calls me me “ ,” but I will “ ,” but I will have none of it.have none of it.

red-crossred-cross sistersister

coffeecoffeeComradeComrade

Then at last Then at last before the before the with its and with its and my grows heavy. I my grows heavy. I open the door and a open the door and a strange comes strange comes out to meet me.out to meet me.

brown doorbrown doorworn latchworn latch

I standI stand

CoolnessCoolness

handhand

““Paul,”Paul,” ““Paul-”Paul-”she cries,she cries,nodnod my packmy pack bumpsbumps agaiagainstnst

thethe banibanisters;sters; mymy riflerifle isissoso heavyheavy..

II

I can go no furtherI can go no further

She pulls a door open and calls:She pulls a door open and calls:

““Mother, mother, Paul is here.”Mother, mother, Paul is here.”

mother, mother, Paul is here.mother, mother, Paul is here.

I lean against the wall and I lean against the wall and grip and . grip and . I hold them as tight as I I hold them as tight as I can, but I cannot take can, but I cannot take another step, the staircase another step, the staircase fades before my eyes. fades before my eyes.

helmethelmet rifleriflemymy

support self with the support self with the butt of rifle against butt of rifle against feet and clench teeth feet and clench teeth fiercely, but cannot speak fiercely, but cannot speak a word, sister’s call has a word, sister’s call has made .made .

mymyII

IImymy

mymy

mymymeme

mymy

powerlesspowerless

I stand on the steps, , I stand on the steps, , , , and against , , and against my will the tears run down my my will the tears run down my cheeks.cheeks.

miserablemiserablehelplesshelpless paralysedparalysed