[Jennifer Reeser]

Steps

Your first step will be small, my child,
your last step, small as well.
With the first, you'll hold my hand,
the last, you'll take yourself.

Soon you will walk many steps,
and wander from my sight.
Who knows what kind of steps you'll take
through daylight, through the night?

Walk a bold step, take a brave step.
The world is great and yours.
After the last step we will be
together, child, once more.

Die Schritte

Klein ist, mein Kind, dein erster Schritt,
Klein wird dein letzter sein.
Den ersten gehn Vater und Mutter mit,
Den letzten gehst du allein.

Seis um ein Jahr, dann gehst du, Kind,
Viel Schritte unbewacht,
Wer weiß, was das dann für Schritte sind
Im Licht und in der Nacht?

Geh kühnen Schritt, tu tapfren Tritt,
Groß ist die Welt und dein.
Wir werden, mein Kind, nach dem letzten Schritt
Wieder beisammen sein.

– Albrecht Goes



Literal:

The Steps

Your first step, my child, is small,
your last will be small.
The first you'll walk with Father and Mother,
the last you'll walk alone.

After a year, then you'll walk, child,
many steps, unguarded,
who knows what kind of steps they'll then be,
in the light and in the night?

Walk a bold step, take a brave step,
the world is great and yours.
We will, my child, after the last step,
be together again.