Translation © by Laura Prichard

Meine Nächte
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG SPA
Kennst du meine Nächte?
An dem See? Die geheimsten Abendschauer
Stillen Blumensehnsucht in tiefsten Gärten
Und es gehn wie schlanke goldne Barken
Spiegellichter aus den weißen Villen
Durch den See.

Kennst du meine Nächte?
Traumesmüd Mädchen zieh'n
In schimmernden Gewändern
Zu des Parks gründunkelnen Zypressen.
Gräser schauern, ihrer selbst vergessen,
Sitzen sie an hohen Brunnenrändern,
Traumesmüd.                                                

Kennst du meine Nächte?
Sommerklar leuchten mir
Die schönen Sehnsuchtsträume,
Durch die lichten Marmorraüme.
Dunkel wachsen dort die Bäume
Atmen dort die fremden, heißen Büsten
Sommerklar.                                                

Kennst du meine Nächte?
Tief der See zwischen mir und fernem Sommerorte.
Fluten schlafen und die Wüsten trauern.
Drüben leuchten noch die weißen Mauern.
Aber nimmer klirrt die Gitterpforte,
Überm See.

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It is based on

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "My nights", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , "Mis noches", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Bertram Kottmann

This text was added to the website: 2013-07-26
Line count: 26
Word count: 113

My nights
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Do you know my nights?
by the lake? The most secret evening shower,
silent flower-yearning in deepest gardens
going by like slender golden boats,
reflected lights from the white villas
across the lake.

Do you know my nights?
dream-weary maidens appear
in shimmering robes
near the park's dark-green cypresses.
Grasses shudder, forgetting themselves,
Sitting at the mouth of the spring,
dream-weary.                             

Do you know my nights?
Clear summer [nights] light my
beautiful dreams of longing,
through the bright marble rooms.
Shadows lengthen through the trees
The strange, white busts breathe there
[In the] clear summer [nights].          

Do you know my nights?
Deep is the lake between me and distant summer places.
The tide sleeps and the wilderness mourns.
Over the water the white walls still shine.
But no more rattle the barred doors,
beyond the lake.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Laura Prichard, (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:

Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2013-07-26
Line count: 26
Word count: 136