Heinrich Heine - Meeresstille (English) lyrics

Calm at sea! The sun is throwing Great long beams upon the water, And the ship ploughs through the furrows, Through a sea of tossing j**els. And the bosun on his belly Softly snores beside the tiller; While a shrinking, tar-smeared ship's boy Patches sail beside the foremast. Underneath the dirt, his cheeks are Reddening slowly; fear or sorrow Makes his broad mouth twitch and tremble And his large, deep eyes are troubled. For the Captain stands before him, Storms and swears and scolds him: "Rascal! Rascal! You've been at the barrel. Rascal! You have stolen a herring!" But a sea-gull, from high spaces, Shoots down on the giddy spratling; And, her prey held in her talons, Back into the blue she circles.