Geheimnis

Und da mich die Ketten beschwerten,
Die Dünste dem Atem wehrten
Die Balken der Decke sich bückten,
Die Wände zusammenrückten, —
Da sind zwei Vögel gekommen,
Die Schnäbel golden erglommen.
Sie haben mich fortgetragen.
Mehr will ich davon nicht sagen.

— Werner Bergengruen (1892–1964)

Bergengruen was born in Riga, took part in World War I, and lived mostly in Berlin. His novel Der Großtyrann und das Gericht (1935) was a huge hit. It was even made into a movie. In 1936 he became a Catholic; a year later, his anti-regime cycle of poems "Der ewige Kaiser" and his general outlook got him in trouble with the Nazis. He was judged "unsuited for helping to develop German culture".