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Ich weiß ein traulich Plätzchen Im Buchenwalde tief, Da fand ich jüngst mein Schätzchen, Das sanft im Grünen schlief. Es lag ihr Köpfchen holde Auf weichem Pfühl von Moos, Durch's Laub wie Regen von Golde Der Sonnenschimmer floß. Und funkelnde Lichter spielten Um ihre Elfengestalt, Und säuselnde Lüfte kühlten, Und träumerisch rauschte der Wald. Wohl glühten im Schlaf ihre Wangen, Es wehte ihr Athem so heiß Und flüsternde Worte klangen Von ihren Lippen leis. Ich lag auf den Knie'n, zu belauschen Der Liebe Orakel im Traum, Wie störte mich rings das Rauschen! Zu athmen wagt' ich kaum. Da rief ein Kuckuck helle. So tückisch hell im Busch, Auffuhr mein Liebchen schnelle, Und war entfloh'n im Husch. Ein Brünnlein sprang im Walde, Es war ein dunkler Ort, Dort trafen wir uns balde Und tauschten Blick und Wort. Ich hing an ihrem Munde, Der Kuckuck rief im Laub -- Wir aber waren zur Stunde Für alle Rufe taub. --
Confirmed with, Ranken. Gedichte von Adolf Bekk, Zweite Auflage, Pest, Wien, Leipzig: A. Hartleben's Verlag, 1867, pages 22-23.
Text Authorship:
- by Adolph Bekk (1830 - 1906), "Im Walde", appears in Ranken, in Erste Abtheilung, in Rebe und Rose [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 Alfred Michaelis (1854 - 1914), "Im Walde", op. 26 (Fünf Waldlieder für gemischten Chor) no. 2, published 1893 [ satb chorus ], Langensalza: Beyer & Söhne [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "In the woods", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-05
Line count: 32
Word count: 155
I know a cosy little spot Deep in the beechwood forest, There I recently found my darling Who was sleeping softly in the greenery. Her lovely little head lay Upon a soft pillow of moss, Through the foliage, like golden rain, Poured the shimmer of the sun. And sparkling lights played About her elf-like form, And rustling breezes blew coolly, And the woods soughed dreamily. Her cheeks quite glowed in sleep, Her breath came and went so fervently And whispering words sounded Quietly from her lips. I knelt down to eavesdrop Upon the oracle of love in her dream, How the soughing round about disturbed me! I hardly dared to breathe. A cuckoo called loudly, So treacherously loudly in the bush. My darling started up quickly And was gone in a moment. A water-spring flowed in the forest, It was a dark spot, There we soon met And exchanged glances and words. I hung upon her lips, The cuckoo called in the foliage -- But at that hour we Were deaf to all calls. --
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Adolph Bekk (1830 - 1906), "Im Walde", appears in Ranken, in Erste Abtheilung, in Rebe und Rose
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-02
Line count: 32
Word count: 173