Bertolt Brecht: ,,An die Nachgeborenen" ( to the afterborn ) author reading

I love his voice... maybe you will too, even without understanding German? In any case, I will translate the text.

I

Really, I live in dark times!
The guileless word is foolish. A smooth forehead
purports insensitivity. The laughing one
has only not yet received
the dreadful news.

What kind of times these are, where
a conversation about trees is almost a crime.
Because it in involves keeping silent about so many
misdeeds!
Who there peacefully goes across the street
is likely no longer within reach of his friends,
who are in need?

It is true: I still earn my livelihood
But believe me: that is only a coincidence. Nothing
of that, which I do, gives me the right to eat my fill.
Coincidentally, I have been spared. (when my luck runs out, I am lost)

They say to me: Eat and drink, you! Be happy that you have!
But how can I eat and drink, when
I wrest away what I eat from the starving one and
my glass of water is missing from the thirsting one?
And yet I eat and drink.

I would gladly be wise as well.
In the old books there is written, what is wise:
To keep one's self out of the world and to spend the
short time without fear
also to get by without violence
to repay wicked with good
to not fulfill one's wishes, but to forget them
is counted as wise.
I cannot do any of that:
Really, I live in dark times!

II

I came to the cities in the time of disorder
as hunger ruled.
I came among the people in the time of uproar
and I revolted with them.
So elapsed my time
that was given to me on earth.

I ate my food between the battles
I laid myself to sleep among the murderers
I attended to love carelessly
and without patience I saw nature.
So elapsed my time
that was given to me on earth.

The streets led into the swamp in my time.
Speech betrayed me to the slaughterer.
I was only capable of little. But the rulers
felt more certain without me, this I hoped.
So elapsed my time
that was given to me on earth.

The powers were little. The goal
at a great distance.
It was clearly seen, even if for me
scarcely attainable.
So elapsed my time
that was given to me on earth.

III

You, who will emerge from the flood
in which we have gone down
Remember
When you speak from our weaknesses
the dark time
that you have escaped.

Although we went, changing countries more often than shoes
through the wars of the classes, desperate
if there was only injustice and no revolt.

Yet now we know:
Even hatred against baseness
contorts the features.
Even rage over the injustice
makes the voice hotter. Ah, we
who wanted to sow the seeds of kindness
could ourselves not be kind.

You though, when the time comes
that man helps his fellow man
Remember us
with leniency.