Ringelnatz, Joachim: Silence* (Schweigen Angol nyelven)

Manche Leute verneigen

Sich gerne vor Leuten, die ernsten Gesichts

Langdauernd schweigen.

Manche Leute neigen

Dazu, zu grollen, wenn andere schweigen.

Schonet das Schweigen! Es sagt doch nichts.

There are some people who bow

To those given to extended silence

With a serious brow.

And then there are those who resent

Contemporaries with a silent bent.

All in all, noone should confuse

Silence with a statement that is of much use.

* An attempted English paraphrase.