The master builder must not die
the peasants thought when the castle was built
as their upper arms grew into tree-trunks

For only the master builder had the plan of the castle
in his head and although they hated him the peasants
thought the master builder must not die

because otherwise everything would have been
in vain all those unpaid working hours
all the bother and with the wind combing their

hair during their work the peasants were already
thinking of the portions of pease-pudding and flour which after
long days they would bring home for the whole family

With hands that later were to protect the edifice
to put to flight the Saracenes and Vikings
the peasants went through the motions of praying

the King mustn't die thought the peasants when battles
were raging thought the wives of the peasants
when they were eating They thought socage equals want not death

Translated by Hans-Christian Oeser & Gabriel Rosenstock