We never shared you; never touched you
As for love - well, all that is behind
On his breast my brother keeps your image
And I carry this same image in my mind

And on the day when we were parting at the station
I said "I’ll love you till the day I die"
"I won’t forget!" I said with dedication
My brother added, "My love, neither will I"

Now be the judge - who has it harder?
And for whom it’s worse, try to decide:
One of us has scarred his skin with iron
And the other’s soul is scarred inside

And when in pain I long for an execution -
please do not now take offense -
Opening my brother’s shirt is my solution
And then staring for hours in suspense

But, recently, my good friend and comrade
Has defeated my woes with fine art
Glancing at my brother’s breast, your face he copied
And then pricked your profile right beside my heart

It is rude to blacken friends, this much I know
But I feel you’re much closer now to me
Since my tattoo, well, your tattoo is so much
better and more beautiful than his.