Leid und Finsternis wohin ich seh,
Über tausend Gräber fällt der Schnee,
Deckt das blutig starrende Gefild
Still mit seinem hoffnungslosen Schild.
Doch wir werden einen Frühling schauen,
Werden eine reine Zukunft bauen,
Daß die Lieben, die der Schnee begraben,
Nicht umsonst für uns geblutet haben.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., 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 548-549.
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):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Winter 1914", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Hiver 1914", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2014-08-22
Line count: 8
Word count: 46
Souffrances et ténèbres où que je regarde,
Sur mille tombes tombe la neige,
Couvre le champ sanglant et figé
De son bouclier désespéré.
Pourtant nous verrons un printemps,
Nous construirons un futur pur,
Pour que les aimés que la neige a ensevelis
N'aient pas saigné pour nous en vain.