An dich denken

Sehnsucht fordert die unbedingte Naehe
Doch nur Stille fuellt den Raum
So zerschmilzt ein grosser Wunsch
In den bescheidenen Trost des Traums
Und warten trifft die eigene Zaertlichkeit

Man fuehlt die bruederliche Ruh
Das ersehnte wird durch ein edles Bild ersetzt
Die unendlich warme schwarze Tiefe
Faengt schweigend weisse Schmetterlinge

Ein silberner Vorhang faellt vor
deiner zarten blassen Seele
Man drueckt den Knopf das Licht geht aus
Das Kissen fanegt ein muedes hoffen auf

----

Thinking of you

Yearning postulates propinquity
But only silence fills the room
So a great wish melts away
Into the modest comfort of a dream
Patience meets tenderness

You feel the brotherly quiescence
Longing is replaced with noble visions
The abysmal warm black depth
Catches white butterflies in a hush

A silver curtain falls on your tender pallid soul
With a push all light withdraws
Hope falls into a pillow

Indeed nothing pinks like propinquity!

My dear apprentice mage, this poem and its translation create that rare moment of true bilingual synergy, of bilinguality. You will remember we spoke of the translator's art, and how we depend on the skillful practice of that art for sense itself (I don't remember saying that last part, but I'm sure you got it anyway from what I did say, if telepathically, telegraphically); here I find the translation to be the most beautiful use of language, utterly native in its expression: I think you have pulled off a Joseph Conrad, and done the good old English tongue as if she were your very Muttersprache! Well, she practically is, in your case; heaven knows you're not the average German, Gott sei Dank daresay.

Good Lord, I'd better shut up here; don't want to alienate anybody (else)... say, by the way, Hey Hey speaks German; I'm sure he will see the bilingual beauty of this poem in both its avatars.

I'm supposed to be sleeping, as you know, but I just can't; I'm too happy, and I am so unused to happiness I hardly know what to do with myself...

In any case, what I mean to say is I love this poem in both languages, and it is truly a poem which swings both ways. Very cool indeed. Oh! And the weisse Schmetterlinge! We have those here! Right here in the yard at good old Studio Lance we always have at least one white butterfly fluttering by.

I'm so glad you're back on the site; as you will remember, I'm not much good at replies--just look at this one, for example--but at least I'm sincere. My reply was originally pretty well thought-out, but then Teddy called, and I had a really good visit (mostly about you, two thumbs up... or, I guess FOUR thumbs up...), and I rather lost my train of thought, or it left the station without me.

I really do love your poem, and also all these other really remarkable poems we are seeing hereabouts of late; we seem to be having a general renaissance, and it makes me so happy. Spring is springing, propinquity is pinking, everywhere, everywhere...

Thank you, Franziska, for being who you are, and what you are to me. I love you, and I love your poem.

"Yearning postulates propinquity" has GOT to be one of the best lines ever, in any language, and it's but the first line of the translation; you hit a home run on the first pitch, right outta the park.

I am so proud of you.

wundervoll

I am awe-struck! Splendid, perfect, flowing. Divine. You have created an instant classic, Franziska. It simply blew me away. I want to see more!

Big K