Sechs Gedichte von Emily Dickinson

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by John Woods Duke (1899 - 1984)

View original-language texts alone: Six Poems by Emily Dickinson

1. Good Morning ‑‑ Midnight  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Good Morning -- Midnight --
I'm coming Home --
Day -- got tired of Me --
How could I -- of Him?

Sunshine was a sweet place --
I liked to stay --
But Morn -- didn't want me -- now --
So -- Goodnight -- Day!

I can look -- can't I --
When the East is Red?
The Hills -- have a way -- then --
That puts the Heart -- abroad --

You -- are not so fair -- Midnight --
I chose -- Day --
But -- please take a little Girl --
He turned away!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
1.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Guten Morgen - Mitternacht
ich kehr zurück nach Haus -
der Tag - ward meiner leid -
wie käm ich ohne ihn aus?

Im warmen Sonnenlicht
hat das Herz mir gelacht -
doch die Früh wollt’ mich nicht -
so - Tag, - gute Nacht!

Ich darf doch das Rot
im Osten noch sehn?
Die Höh’n lassen mir 
dann das Herz aufgehn.

Mitternacht - bist nicht so schön -
den Tag ich erkies -
doch nimm ein junges Ding,
das dieser abwies!

Text Authorship:

  • 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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2017-05-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 71

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. 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)
2.
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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2015-06-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Let down the bars  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Let down the bars, O Death!
The tired flocks come in
Whose bleating ceases to repeat,
Whose wandering is done.

Thine is the stillest night,
Thine the [securest]1 fold;
Too near thou art for seeking thee,
Too tender to be told.

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1 Jordahl: "severest"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Heb auf die Schranken, Tod!
Die matten Herden nahn,
ihr Blöken stirbt allmählich fort,
ihr Tagwerk ist getan.

Dein ist die stillste Nacht,
dein ist der beste Hort;
zu nah, als dass man nach dir sucht,
zu sanft für weitres Wort.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2019 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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2019-01-05
Line count: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. An awful tempest mashed the air  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
An awful Tempest mashed the air --
The clouds were gaunt, and few --
A Black -- as of a Spectre's Cloak
Hid Heaven and Earth from view.

The creatures chuckled on the Roofs --
And whistled in the air --
And shook their fists --
And gnashed their teeth --
And swung their frenzied hair.

The morning lit -- the Birds arose --
The Monster's faded eyes
Turned slowly to his native coast --
And peace -- was Paradise!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
4.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Monstersturm zerhieb die Luft;
die Wolken, schauerlich;
und Schwärze nahm - ein Spukgewand -
Himmel und Erd’ die Sicht.

Von Dächern gluckste es herab,
dann pfiff es gellend, schrill,
zeigte die Faust
und wütete
und schwang die Haare wild.

Im Morgengraun beim Hahnenschrei
das Monster von uns ließ,
nachdem es müden Augs ging heim,
kehrt Ruh ins Paradies!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2019 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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2019-01-05
Line count: 13
Word count: 57

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. Nobody knows this little Rose  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Nobody knows this little rose,
It might a pilgrim be.
Did I not take it from the ways
And lift it up to thee.

Only a bee will miss it,
Only a butterfly,
Hastening from far journey
On its breast to lie.

Only a bird will wonder,
Only a breeze will sigh,
Ah, little rose, how easy
For such as thee to die!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
5.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Niemand fällt ein die Rose klein,
sie könnt’ noch pilgern hier,
hätt’ ich sie nicht am Weg gepflückt
und hingegeben dir.

Nur einer Biene fehlt sie,
wohl einem Falter bloß,
der eilt, nach langer Reise
zu ruhn in ihrem Schoß.

Nur einen Vogel wundert’s,
ein Lufthauch seufzt allein,
ach, Röslein klein, wie einfach
kann dir das Sterben sein!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2019 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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2019-01-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 58

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Bee! I'm expecting you!  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Bee! I'm expecting you!
Was saying Yesterday
To Somebody you know
That you were due --

The Frogs got Home last Week --
Are settled, and at work --
Birds, mostly back --
The Clover warm and thick --

You'll get my Letter by
The Seventeenth; Reply
Or better, be with me --
Yours, Fly.

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Confirmed with The Poems of Emily Dickinson, ed. R.W. Franklin, Volume 2, Cambridge, MA and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1998, Poem 983.


by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
6.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Biene! Ich erwarte dich!
Seist fällig eigentlich,
erzählte gestern ich
einem, den du kennst.

Seit letzter Woche sind
die Frösche hier am Werk,
die meisten Vögel auch,
der Klee steht warm und dicht.

Bis Siebzehnten erreicht
mein Brief dich; schreib zurück;
noch besser, du kommst gleich -
Gruß, Fliege.

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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-03-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 48

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann