by Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956)
Translation © by Knut W. Barde

Moderne Legende
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Als der Abend übers Schlachtfeld wehte
Waren die Feinde geschlagen.
Klingend die Telegrafendrähte
Haben die Kunde hinausgetragen.

Da schwoll am einen Ende der Welt
Ein Heulen, das am Himmelsgewölbe zerschellt'
Ein Schrei, der aus rasenden Mündern quoll
Und wahnsinnstrunken zum Himmel schwoll.
Tausend Lippen wurden vom Fluchen blaß
Tausend Hände ballten sich wild im Haß.

Und am andern Ende der Welt
Ein Jauchzen am Himmelsgewölbe zerschellt'
Ein Jubeln, ein Toben, ein Rasen der Lust
Ein freies Aufatmen und Recken der Brust.
Tausend Lippen wühlten im alten Gebet
Tausend Hände falteten fromm sich und stet.
In der Nacht noch spät
Sangen die Telegrafendräht'
Von den Toten, die auf dem Schlachtfeld geblieben - -
Siehe, da ward es still bei Freunden und Feinden.

Nur die Mütter weinten
Hüben - und drüben.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Knut W. Barde) , "Modern Legend", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Knut W. Barde

This text was added to the website: 2006-04-07
Line count: 22
Word count: 126

Modern Legend
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
When evening drifted over the battlefield
the enemies were defeated.
Ringing telegraph wires
broadcast the news.

There arose at one end of the world
a howling, that broke at the celestial vault
a scream that from raging mouths emerged
and madness-filled the sky did climb.
A thousand lips turned pale from cursing
a thousand hands clenched wildly with hate.

And at the other end of the world
an exultation broke at the celestial vault
a jubilation, a roaring, a raging of joy
a sigh of relief and a filling of the breast.
A thousand lips wallowed in old prayers
a thousand hands folded piously and steadily.

In the night, until late
the telegraph wires sang
of the dead, who remained on the battle field...

Look,  a quiet settled upon friend and foe.
only the mothers cried
here - and there.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Knut W. Barde, (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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This text was added to the website: 2006-04-07
Line count: 22
Word count: 139