Poetry Blog no 135 Three Poems from the German- The City, Lonely in a Field, On Going to Sleep

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THREE POEMS FROM THE GERMAN- THE CITY, LONELY IN A FIELD, ON GOING TO SLEEP

 

Heinrich Heine 

                                                                  Hermann Allmers

                                                                                             Herman Hesse

Writers who attempt to translate poetry from one language to another almost inevitably invite criticism of their efforts. On the one hand there is the criticism that the literal meaning of the original has been mangled, either by omissions or unjustified additions or both, and on the other there is the contention that the translated poem is far inferior as a poem to the original. However, without the work of translators all poetry other than that in languages one understands would remain completely out of reach. Thus perhaps it is best to regard and enjoy them as poems in themselves, inspired, as it were, by the originals.

The City- this name (Die Stadt) was given to it by Schubert when he turned it into a song. It comes from Heine's great collection Buch der Lieder (Book of Songs).

Lonely in a Field (Feldeinsamkeit) is probably the most famous poem by Hermann Allmers. It was set as a song by Brahms.

On Going to Sleep (Beim Schlafengehen) is a poem by Herman Hesse (more famous for his novels like Steppenwolf and Siddhartha ). It was set to music by Richard Strauss (Four Last Songs).

                            THE CITY

after the German of Heinrich Heine

There on the far horizon

Like a mist-made picture seems

The city with its towers,

All veiled in dusk-pale gleams.

A humid wind gust ruffles

The waterway's grey face;

The oarsman in my craft

Now rows with sorrow's pace.

The sun lifts out for one last time...

Lights land from low-above,

And shows that place to me

Where I have lost my love.

                      LONELY IN A FIELD

after the German of Hermann Allmers

I rest still in the high, green grass, and long

I gaze with all above my single view;

And ceaselessly the chirping crickets throng,

And I'm strange-bound by heaven's sky of blue.

The beautiful, white clouds are drawn along

Through deeps of blue like fair, still dreams... at last

It feels as if long past I had passed on

To drift with clouds through everlasting-vast.

Night and Sleep Evelyn de Morgan 1878

 

                      ON GOING TO SLEEP

after the German of Hermann Hesse

Now the day has wearied me,

As a friend shall night's star-wonder

Take request made longingly,

Like a child with eyes of slumber?

Hands, release all deeds, and brow

Forget the restless thoughts you keep,

All my mind and senses now

Wish to sink down into sleep.

And my soul, unseen to sight,

Wants to soar in flight so free;

And, through magic sphere of night,

Live thousandfold profundity.