Lieder auf Gedichte von Emily Dickinson

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Robert F. Baksa (b. 1938)

View original-language texts alone: Emily Dickinson Songs

1. Much madness is divinest sense  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Much madness is divinest sense
To [a]1 discerning eye;
Much sense the starkest madness.
'Tis the majority
In this, as all, prevails.
Assent, and you are sane,
Demur, - you're straightaway dangerous,
And handled with a chain.

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1 Langert : "the"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
1.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
„Verrücktheit“ - göttlichste Vernunft -
dem, der es wahrlich sieht,
„Vernunft“, schierste Verrücktheit -
doch was die Mehrheit meint,
das gilt, wie stets, auch hier -
wer zustimmt, ist normal,
und wer sich sträubt, gilt als Gefahr,
die man in Ketten legt.

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  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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This text was added to the website: 2017-06-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

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2. I took my power in my hand  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I took my power in my hand.
And went against the world;
'T was not so much as David had,
But I was twice as bold.

I aimed my pebble, but myself
Was all the one that fell.
Was it Goliath was too large,
Or only I too small?

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
2.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich nahm zusammen alle Kraft:
es ging gegen die Welt,
zwar nicht so stark wie David - doch
als doppelt kühner Held.

Den Kiesel auf ein Ziel, doch fiel
ich selbst zum Opfer ihm.
War Goliath es, der zu groß
oder zu klein ich bloß?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 8
Word count: 44

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3. What inn is this  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
What inn is this
Where for the night
Peculiar traveller comes?
Who is the landlord?
Where the maids?
Behold, what curious rooms!
No ruddy fires on the hearth,
No brimming tankards flow.
Necromancer, landlord,
Who are these below?

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In welchen Gast-
hof kehrt des Nachts
der seltsame Reisende ein?
Wer ist der Wirt wohl,
wo die Magd?
Zudem die Zimmer, schau!
Kein wärmend Feuer im Kamin,
kein Humpen, übervoll.
Geisterseher! Gastwirt! sagt, 
wer sind wohl die da drunt?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 10
Word count: 40

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4. I died for beauty  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I died for beauty, but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth, - the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
4.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Für Schönheit starb ich - hatte kaum
aufs Grab mich eingestellt,
als jemand, der für Wahrheit starb,
seitlich sich beigesellt.

Er fragte sacht, woran ich blieb.
„Für Schönheit“ meinte ich.
„Und ich für Wahrheit, - da sie eins,
sind Brüder, du und ich.“

Im Plauderton, weil wir verwandt,
ging’s nachts von Wand zu Wand,
bis Moos die Lippen uns verschloss,
über die Namen spross.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 12
Word count: 62

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5. The soul selects her own society  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
The soul selects her own society,
Then shuts [the door;
On her divine majority
Obtrude]2 no more.

Unmoved, she notes the [chariot's]2 pausing
At her low gate;
Unmoved, an emperor is kneeling
Upon her mat.

I've known her from an ample nation
Choose one;
Then close the valves of her attention
Like stone.

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1 Getty: "the door,/ To her divine majority/ Present"
2 Getty: "chariots"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
5.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Seele sucht sich den aus, den sie will,
schließt dann das Tor,
lässt niemand mehr zum Kreise der
Erlauchten vor.

Sieht ungerührt, wie Kutschen halten
vor ihrer Tür,
sieht kühl zu, wie auf ihrer Matte
ein Kaiser kniet.

Ich weiß, sie wählt - aus vielen - einen 
allein,
schließt dann die Wahrnehmungsventile -
wie Stein.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 12
Word count: 54

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6. A shady friend for torrid days  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
A shady friend for torrid days
Is easier to find
Than one of higher temperature
For frigid hour of mind.

The vane a little to the east
Scares muslin souls away;
If broadcloth breasts are firmer
Than those of organdy,

Who is to blame? The weaver?
Ah! the bewildering thread!
The tapestries of paradise
So notelessly are made!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
6.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Freund, der kühlt in hitz’ger Zeit,
wird eher dir zum Fund
als einer, der das Herz dir wärmt
in frost’ger Seelenstund.

Die Wetterfahne leicht gen Ost
schreckt Seelen aus Musselin;
wenn die aus Loden fester sind
als jene aus Batist,

verschuldet der Weber dies?
Das Garn ist’s, das verwirrt!
Gewebe aus dem Paradies
wird unbemerkt gewirkt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Word count: 57

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7. I'm nobody  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us - don't tell!
They'd [banish us]1, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell [your]2 name the livelong [day]3
To an admiring bog!

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1 Bacon, G. Coates: "advertise"
2 Bacon, G. Coates: "one's"
3 Bacon, G. Coates: "June"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
7.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bin ein Niemand! Wer bist du?
Bist auch ein Niemand du?
Dann sind zu zweit wir - sag’s niemand!
Wir würden dann verbannt.

Wie monoton, jemand zu sein -
ein lauter Frosch gleichsam:
Der stellt sich vor, tagaus, tagein
Bewunderern im Schlamm!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2016 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 8
Word count: 40

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8. Two butterflies went out at noon  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Two butterflies went out at noon
And waltzed [above a stream]1,
Then stepped straight through the firmament
And rested on a beam;

And then together bore away
Upon a shining sea, -
Though never yet, in any port,
Their coming mentioned be.

If spoken by the distant bird,
If met in ether sea
By frigate or by merchantman,
[Report was not]2 to me.

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1 Hoekman: "upon a Farm"
2 Hoekman: "No notice was"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
8.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwei Falter flogen mittags aus,
gaukelten überm Bach,
durchtanzten dann das Firmament -
auf Lichtstrahl Rast hernach.

Drauf schwebten sie zusammen fort,
über ein glitzernd’ Meer,
doch wurde nie an einem Port
ihr Kommen je bemerkt.

Ob sie der ferne Vogel sprach,
ob sie auf lichtem Meer
ein Seemann oder Kaufmann traf,
dies drang nie zu mir her.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 12
Word count: 57

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9. Heart! we will forget him  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Heart, we will forget him
You and I, tonight.
You may forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.

When you have done, pray tell me,
That I [my thoughts may dim]1;
Haste! lest while you're lagging,
I may remember him!

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1 another version (Dickinson): "may straight begin"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
9.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Herz, lass’ uns ihn vergessen
noch eh’ die Nacht anbricht.
Du die Wärme, die er gab,
und ich vergess’ das Licht.

Hast Du’s geschafft, Herz, sag mir’s,
streich’ ich ihn aus dem Sinn.
Rasch! Dass nicht, wenn du zögerst,
ich wieder denk an ihn.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 8
Word count: 44

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10. No matter ‑ now ‑ Sweet  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
No matter - now - Sweet -
But when I'm Earl -
Won't you wish you'd spoken
To that dull Girl? 

Trivial a Word - just -
Trivial - a Smile -
But won't you wish you'd spared one
When I'm Earl? 

I shan't need it - then -
Crests - will do -
Eagles on my Buckles -
On my Belt - too -

Ermine - my familiar Gown -
Say - Sweet - then
Won't you wish you'd smiled - just -
Me upon?

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
10.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Derzeit, Lieb, ist’s egal,
doch wenn von Welt ich bin ,
hättst du nicht gern dich zugewandt
der tumben Träumerin?

Nur ein banales Wort,
ein Lächeln zu mir hin -
doch hättst nicht gern erübrigt eins,
wenn ich von Adel bin?

Dann brauch ich es nicht mehr,
denn Wappen werden’s tun
mit Adlern auf dem Gürtelschloss
und Adlern auf den Schuhn.

Trag täglich Hermelin -
sag - Lieber - hättest dann
nicht gerne du gerade mich
einmal gelächelt an?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 16
Word count: 75

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11. Poor little heart!  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Poor little heart!
Did they forget thee?
Then dinna care! Then dinna care!

Proud little heart!
Did they forsake thee?
Be debonair! Be debonair!

Frail little heart!
I would not break thee:
Could'st credit me? Could'st credit me?

Gay little heart!
Like morning glory
Thou'll wilted be; thou'll wilted be!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
11. Trauriges Herz!
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Trauriges Herz!
Vergaßen sie dich?
Ärger dich nicht! Ärger dich nicht!

Hoffärtig Herz!
Verließen sie dich!?
Hab Zuversicht! Hab Zuversicht!

Fragiles Herz!
Nie breche ich dich:
Baust du auf mich? Baust du auf mich?

Heiteres Herz!
Wie Windengewächs
welkst du dahin; welkst du dahin!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Translation of title "Poor little heart!" = "Trauriges Herz!"


This text was added to the website: 2018-06-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 44

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
12. There's a certain slant of light  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
There's a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons,
That oppresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.

Heavenly hurt it gives us;
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings are.

None may teach it anything,
'T is the seal, despair, -
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.

When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, 't is like the distance
On the look of death.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
12.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
’s ist ein gewisses schräges Licht
an Winternachmittagen,
das auf uns liegt wie das Gewicht
von Sang in Kathedralen.

Es fügt uns eine Wunde zu,
doch Narben sieht man nicht,
hingegen innern Widerspruch,
wo Wesentliches liegt.

Niemand es zu erklären weiß -
versiegelt ist’s, Verzweiflung, -
es ist ein kaiserliches Leid,
geschickt uns von der Luft.

Und rückt es an, dann horcht das Land, 
Schatten den Atem halten
weicht es, so ist’s, als sähe man
des Todes fernes Walten.

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Line count: 16
Word count: 77

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13. The morns are meeker than they were  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
13. Herbst
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Früh' gedämpfter als zuvor,
die Nüsse brauner schon;
der Beere Wange runder,
die Rose ist geflohn.

Der Ahorn trägt den buntern Schal,
die Flur ein rot Gewand.
Dass ich nicht altmodisch bin,
leg ich ein Schmuckstück an.

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  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2011 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 8
Word count: 38

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14. When night is almost done  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
When Night is almost done --
And Sunrise grows so near
That we can touch the Spaces --
It's time to smooth the Hair --

And get the Dimples ready --
And wonder we could care
For that old -- faded Midnight --
That frightened -- but an Hour --

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
14.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn fast die Nacht vorbei
und Morgenlicht sich zeigt,
dass man zurecht sich finden kann,
ist’s Zeit, dass man sich kämmt,

ein erstes Lächeln übt, 
sich wundert, dass man vor
der lang verwelkten Mitternacht
eine Stund’ geschaudert hat.

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  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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Line count: 8
Word count: 38

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15. Who robbed the woods  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Who robbed the woods,
The trusting woods?
The unsuspecting trees
Brought out their burrs and mosses
His fantasy to please.
He scanned their trinkets, curious,
He grasped, he bore away.
What will the solemn hemlock,
What will the fir-tree say?

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
15.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wer plünderte den Wald -
den zutraulichen Wald?
Die Bäume, ahnungslos,
lieferten Früchte, Moos
für seine Phantasie.
Voll Neugier schätzt’ er alles ein,
er nahm es mit und trug es heim.
Was sagt dazu der ernste Tann
und was die Kiefer wohl?

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This text was added to the website: 2018-06-22
Line count: 9
Word count: 42

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann