When I give up the helm I know
Language: English after the Bangla (Bengali)
When I give up the helm I know
that the time has come for thee to take it.
What there is to do will be instantly done.
Vain is this struggle.
Then take away your hands
and silently put up with your defeat, my heart,
and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still
where you are placed.
These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind,
and trying to light them
I forget all else again and again.
But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark,
spreading my mat on the floor;
and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord,
come silently and take thy seat here.
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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-11-03
Line count: 15
Word count: 116
Geb ich das Ruder aus der Hand, dann...
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Geb ich das Ruder aus der Hand, dann weiß ich wohl,
gekommen ist die Zeit, dass du es übernimmst.
Was nun zu tun ist, sei sogleich getan.
Umsonst ist alles Sträuben.
Gib alles aus der Hand, mein Herz,
nimm schweigend hin, dass du verloren.
Und nimm es als dein Glück, vollkommen still zu sein,
dort wo du bist.
Ein jeder kleiner Wind bläst meine Lampen aus,
und beim Versuch, sie anzuzünden,
vergess’ ich alles andere aufs neu.
Doch diesmal werd’ ich weise sein, im Dunkel harren,
und meine Matte auf dem Boden breiten.
Wann immer, Herr, es dir zur Freude ist,
komm stille und nimm deinen Platz hier ein.
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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-21
Line count: 15
Word count: 109
