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O du mein Kind, das schlummernd mir genaht,
traumvollen Gangs mit tiefem Frageblick,
der keinen Weg erkannte dieser Irrnis,
wer sprach vom Leben dir?
O Schwester du, die meine Hand ergriff,
getreu und still und gleichen Schrittes ging,
in süßer Sorge ihres Bruders wartend,
wer gab Vertrauen dir?
Geliebte du, die meiner Seelen Flamme,
die hohe, nährte in Beseligung
und Glut herniedergoß von lichtern Sphären,
wer spendet Inbrunst dir?
O Mütterliche, wann zur Stunde einst
dein milder Schoß mich gar so Müden hegt,
vor dieser Welt zu bergen den Verirrten,
wer dann, wer heiligt dich?
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Nachgelassene Schriften von Walter Calé. Mit einem Vorwort von Fritz Mauthner, herausgegeben und eingeleitet von Arthur Brückmann, Dritte Auflage, Berlin: S. Fischer Verlag, 1910, page 160
Text Authorship:
- by Walter Calé (1881 - 1904), no title, written 1903, appears in Nachgelassene Schriften, in Oden (1903) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Karl Wiener (1891 - 1942), "O du mein Kind", op. 11b no. 2 (1920) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 95
Oh you my child, who approached me slumbering,
with dream-filled tread, with profoundly questioning gaze,
which could discern no path in this confusion,
who spoke to you of life?
Oh sister you, who took hold of my hand,
faithful and quiet, and matched your steps to mine,
caring for her brother with sweet solicitude,
who gave you trust?
Beloved you, who in blissfulness nourished
the flame of my soul, the lofty flame,
and poured down fervour from brighter spheres,
who bestows ardour upon you?
Oh motherly one, when once at my hour
your gentle lap shall harbour me, the oh so weary one,
concealing from the world him who is lost,
who then, who shall hallow thee?
About the headline (FAQ)
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Walter Calé (1881 - 1904), no title, written 1903, appears in Nachgelassene Schriften, in Oden (1903)
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 117