First Sorrow

First Sorrow (German: Erstes Leid) is a short story by Franz Kafka probably written between the fall of 1921 and the spring of 1922. It was the only story Kafka wrote between 1917 and 1923 that was published in his lifetime, appearing in Kurt Wolff Verlag's art periodical Genius, III no. 2 (1921; actually published in 1922).

The story concerns a trapeze artist who wants to remain on his trapeze at all times, and never come down to the ground. He is faced with difficulties when the circus he belongs to must travel from place to place.

References