Schlafes Bruder

Sometimes it happens that I cannot fall asleep. It's been two weeks now - no matter how I try, my eyes are not closing until 3am. It's a strange feeling - being alone in the middle of the night, no sound, no movement, only thoughts. They start from one, which sticks in  the mind and screams "please develop me into an endless thread of other thoughts, please please - are you sleeping yet? and now? and now? cmooooon". Wish I had a switch-off for thinking.

But then I always remember one book, read long time ago, which explains the meaning of insomnia. "Schlafes Bruder" (by Robert Schneider, would be in German. It tells the story about a boy who helplessly fell in love and decided not to sleep - because he who sleeps does not love. And then, not willing to loose those precious moments, he decides not to sleep - even though it means eventual death. The story is so tragic, and yet has something magical in it... and so musical too.

From a movie "Schlafes Bruder", according to the book

Komm, o Tod, du Schlafes  Bruder,

Komm und führe mich nur fort. 

Löse meines Schiffleins Ruder, 

Bringe mich an sichern Port. 

Es mag, wer da will, dich scheuen, 

Du kannst mich vielmehr erfreuen. 

Denn durch dich komm ich herein 

Zu dem schönsten Jesulein.