by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Auf einer Nachtwanderung
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE
Herwandernd aus den Bergen durch die Nacht
Hat mich der Weg durch fahle Wiesensäume
Und weiche Schatten unsichtbarer Bäume
Ans offene Tor der alten Stadt gebracht.

Durch eine lange Straße schritt ich sacht,
Und nirgends schien aus all den schwarzen Scheiben
Ein einzig Kerzenlicht und lud zum Bleiben,
Und alles schlief, und überall war Nacht.

Erst, da ich wieder weit im Felde ging
Und rückwärts auf die wunderlich gebaute,
Schlafwirre Flucht der dunkeln Giebel schaute,
Sah ich ein Licht, das hoch im Turme hing.

Und oben am Gesims war Einer wach;
Der trug am Strick die schaukelnde Laterne
Und bog sich vor und schaute in die Ferne
Und meinen kaum gehörten Schritten nach.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 128-129.


Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "En una caminada nocturna", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Upon a nighttime ramble", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sur une randonnée nocturne", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-05-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 113

Upon a nighttime ramble
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Wandering hither from the mountains through the night
My path has led me through dun-coloured meadow edges
And soft shadows of invisible trees
To the open gate of the old city.
 
I strode gently through a long street
And nowhere out of all the black windowpanes
Shone a single candle and invited one to abide,
And everything slept and everywhere it was night.
 
Only when I again wandered far away in a field
And looked back upon the strangely-constructed,
Sleep-tangled row of dark gables,
I saw a light, suspended high in a tower.
 
And high up upon a cornice one person was awake;
On a rope he carried the swinging lantern
And leaned forward and gazed into the far distance
And followed my barely-heard footsteps.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2016-11-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 125