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Und immer wieder, wenn ich mich müde gesehn an der Menschen Gesichtern, so vielen Spiegeln [unsäglicher]1 Torheit, hob ich das Aug über die Häuser und Bäume empor zu euch, ihr ewigen Gedanken des Himmels. Und eure Größe und Freiheit erlöste mich immer wieder, und ich dachte mit euch über Länder und Meere hinweg und hing mit euch überm Abgrund Unendlichkeit und zerging zuletzt wie Dunst, wenn ich ohn' Maßen den Samen der Sterne fliegen sah über die Äcker der unergründlichen Tiefen.
1 Burghardt: "unendlicher"
Text Authorship:
- by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "An die Wolken", appears in Ich und die Welt [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 Fritz Büchtger (1903 - 1978), "An die Wolken", from Das Buch der Liebe [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans-Georg Burghardt (1909 - 1993), "An die Wolken", op. 8 no. ? [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "To the clouds", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Aux nuages", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Alberto Pedrotti
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 22
Word count: 82
And again and again, when I grew weary of looking upon the faces of mankind, so many mirrors of [untold]1 foolishness, I lifted my eyes over the houses and trees up to you, you eternal thoughts of Heaven. And your greatness and freedom redeemed me ever anew, and with you I sent my thoughts away beyond the nations and oceans and was suspended with you over the abyss of infinity and finally dissolved like vapour, when I saw the seeds of the stars, beyond all measure, flying over fields of impenetrable depths.
1 Burghardt: "unending"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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 Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "An die Wolken", appears in Ich und die Welt
This text was added to the website: 2010-05-31
Line count: 22
Word count: 93