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Wandern ohne Ziel ist Jugendlust, Mit der Jugend ist sie mir erblichen; Seither bin ich nur vom Ort gewichen, War ein Ziel und Wille mir bewußt. Doch dem Blick, der nur das Ziel erfliegt, Bleibt des Wanderns Süße ungenossen, Wald und Strom und aller Glanz verschlossen, Der an allen Wegen wartend liegt. Weiter muß ich nun das Wandern lernen, Daß des Augenblicks unschuldiger Schein Nicht erblasse vor ersehnten Sternen. Das ist Reisekunst: im Weltenreihn Mitzufliehn und nach geliebten Fernen Auch im Rasten unterwegs zu sein.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, 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 198-199.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Reisekunst", written 1910-1911 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Joseph Haas (1879 - 1960), "Reisekunst", op. 65 no. 3, published 1925 [ high voice and piano ], from Unterwegs, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Wilhelm Lache , "Reisekunst", 1949 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L’art de viatjar", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The art of travel", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-07
Line count: 14
Word count: 85
To wander without a goal is the joy of youth, Along with youth, it has paled for me; Since then I have only left this place When I was aware of a goal and a desire. But to the gaze that only looks toward the goal The sweetness of wandering remains untasted, Shuttered is forest and river and all the radiance That lies waiting beside all paths. I must now continue to learn to wander So that the innocent gleam of the moment May not pale before longed-for stars. That is the art of travel: to flee along In the ranks of the world and to be underway Toward beloved distances even when at rest.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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 Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Reisekunst", written 1910-1911
This text was added to the website: 2019-07-19
Line count: 14
Word count: 115