Briefchen schrieb und warf in den Wind ich,
Sie fielen ins Meer, und sie fielen auf Sand.
Ketten von Schnee und von Eise, die bind' ich,
Die Sonne zerschmilzt sie in meiner Hand.
Maria, Maria, du sollst es dir merken:
Am Ende gewinnt, wer dauert im Streit,
Maria, Maria, das sollst du bedenken:
Es siegt, wer dauert in Ewigkeit.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
Based on:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig Schneller , "Briefchen schrieb und warf in den Wind ich", published 1894 [ voice and piano ], from Toscanische Melodien nach Ferd. Gregorovius für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, Heft 2, no. 4, Berlin, Schlesinger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Julius Weismann (1879 - 1950), "Briefchen schrieb und warf in den Wind ich", op. 3 (Acht toskanische Lieder nach Ferdinand Gregorovius:) no. 2 (1900) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Briefchen schrieb ich", op. 6 no. 6 (1898), published 1899 [ voice and piano ], from Walzer Gesänge nach toskanischen Volksliedern von Ferdinand Gregorovius, no. 6, Berlin, Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "I wrote little letters", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "J'ai écrit des petites lettres", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Enrico Magnani) , "Piccole lettere", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alfredo García) , "Escribí unas cartitas", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 59
I wrote little letters and threw them into the wind;
they fell into the sea, and they fell onto the sand.
Into chains of snow and ice, I wind them,
and the sun melts them in my hands.
Maria, Maria, you must notice:
he who endures the struggle wins in the end;
Maria, Maria, you must understand:
he who endures in eternity is victorious.