Poetry Blog No 114 Black-shadowing Chestnut Tree (Meyer)

BLACK-SHADOWING CHESTNUT TREE

This is my English version of a German poem by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. I aim when rendering a poem into English to create something which reads as a poem and thus captures some of the flow and feeling of the original. To what degree I succeed in this is up to others to decide but I hope readers can enjoy this as an English poem, especially if they read it "aloud" (at least in the mind).

From Wikipedia - Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (11 October 1825 – 28 November 1898) was a Swiss poet and historical novelist, a master of realism chiefly remembered for stirring narrative ballads...

Meyer's lyric verse is almost entirely the product of his later years. He frequently celebrated human handiwork, especially works of art. Rome and the monumental work of Michelangelo were among decisive experiences in his life.

He also battled life-long depression but this poem appears to be in some ways life-affirming with the tree seeming not only particular but a symbol of enduring existence (rather like the world tree of Norse legend or the tree of life in Jewish mysticism. 

Chestnut Tree Blooming by Renoir

BLACK-SHADOWING CHESTNUT TREE

after the German of Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

Black-shadowing chestnut tree,

My wind-aroused, cool summer tent,

You bend down your wide branches to

The flow, your thirsting leaf-bunch drinks,

Black-shadowing chestnut tree!

And in the harbour young broods bathe

With shouts of quarrelling or joy

And children swim by gleaming white

Within your leaf-framed trellis work,

Black-shadowing chestnut tree!

When dusk-time darkens lake and shore

The evening steamer rustles by,

Then from the red ship lantern shoots

A flash that wanders on the swell,

The flow, like shattered lettering,

Till under your leaf-cluster fades

The riddle-tracing, flame-like script,

Black-shadowing chestnut tree!

Mark Scrivener Poetry Blog No 100 Foolish Boasting

FOOLISH BOASTING

This is a short anapestic ballad based on fable from Aesop. It has alternating lines of four and three feet.

It is better by far not to brag and to boast,

You might say it’s a very good rule.

For the one who must boast is the one who is most

In great danger of looking a fool.

The anapest is often suitable for a light and slightly comic touch. Dr Seuss, for example, often used it.

An anapaest (also spelled anapæst or anapest, also called antidactylus) is a metrical foot used in formal poetry. In classical quantitative meters it consists of two short syllables followed by a long one; in accentual stress meters it consists of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. Wikipedia.

The ballad is a poem that is typically arranged in quatrains with the rhyme scheme ABAB. Ballads are usually narrative, which means they tell a story - study.com

                    FOOLISH BOASTING

It is better by far not to brag and to boast,

You might say it’s a very good rule.

For the one who must boast is the one who is most

In great danger of looking a fool.

Once a man who was planning a friendly surprise

Looked around for a suitable light.

Then he found some wax candles of varying size

To arrange for a party at night.

So he took them and stood them outside with great care,

Out in every safe spot that he could.

And while darkness descended he lit them all there

So they’d give out soft light where they stood.

Now one candle was largest, it was highest by far.

It was wide; it was tall; it was bright.

And when it was lit it shone out like a star

That’s ablaze in the dark depths of night.

Now this candle was bright but it also was proud

For it felt it had something to show.

So it sang to the rest with a song that was loud,

“ Don’t you see my magnificent glow!”

“I’m delightful! I dazzle! See me flame; see me flower!”

The proud candle proclaimed to the rest.

But one old, half-burnt candle replied, “All your power

Is one flame, that is all, at it’s best.”

“Oh, what nonsense, old smoky!” the proud candle flared.

“I am brighter, much brighter by far!

If you checked you would find- if you did, if you dared-

I’m outshining the moon and each star!”

And now just as it boasted a sudden, brief gust,

A short rush of quick wind, went on through…

And it blew where the candles stood, scattering dust,

And it blew out the proud candle too!

Now the others just flickered but it went right out.

In a moment its glory was gone.

And the old candle laughed, “When I look all about

I just wonder how true was your song!”

“I’m inclined to believe that the moon and each star

Are a little more powerful than you.

Yes, their light shines forever, forever from far,

And each night they are raying anew!”

“ So you see, foolish friend, that to brag is bad form

For you know that no wind passing by-

No, not even the terrible rage of wild storm,

Ever blows out the lights in the sky!”