The Brown Book

Diary Entry of September 20, 1867

Overview

Watching Eva sleep recalls an earlier lullaby and stirs Wagner deeply. He records a dream of a bird clinging to his desk and reflects on sadness and the manner of his death.

Content

Friday, September 20:

Little Eva sleeping. — And so now I’m experiencing the old Paris ‘dors, mon enfant’ — Very moving! — — Yesterday I dreamt of a bird that wouldn’t leave my writing desk but kept clinging to it.— Went to bed in a very sad, solemn mood, the theme being roughly: ‘I am the last.’ — I do not wish a swift unconscious death. —