You ask of my companions. Hills, sir, and the sundown, and a dog large as myself, that my father bought me. They are better than beings because they know, but do not tell; and the noise in the pool at noon excels my piano. I have a brother and a sister; my mother does not care for thought, and father, too busy with his briefs to notice what we do. He buys me many books, but begs me not to read them, because he fears they joggle the mind. They are religious, except me, and address an eclipse ev'ry morning, whom they call their "Father." But I fear my story fatigues you. I would like to learn. Could you tell me how to grow, or is it unconveyed, like melody or witchcraft?
Four Dickinson Songs
Song Cycle by Lee Hoiby (1926 - 2011)
Translated to:
German (Deutsch) — Vier Dickinsonlieder (Bertram Kottmann)
1. A letter  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, written 1862
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Note: From a letter from Emily Dickinson to Thomas Wentworth Higgins, dated April 25, 1862. The line-breaks are arbitrary; this is a prose text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. How the Waters closed  [sung text checked 1 time]
How the Waters closed above Him We shall never know -- How He stretched His Anguish to us That -- is covered too -- Spreads the Pond Her Base of Lilies Bold above the Boy Whose unclaimed Hat and Jacket Sum the History --
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Comment les Eaux se sont fermées sur Lui", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
3. Wild nights  [sung text checked 1 time]
Wild nights! -- Wild nights! Were I with thee, Wild nights should be Our luxury! Futile -- the [Wind]1 -- To a heart in port, -- Done with the Compass, -- Done with the Chart! Rowing in Eden -- Ah! the Sea! Might I but moor -- Tonight -- In thee!
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems by Emily Dickinson, first published 1891
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CHI Chinese (中文) (Mei Foong Ang) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Walter A. Aue) , "Sturmnacht! - Sturmnacht!", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Notti selvagge! Notti di tempesta!", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 note: sometimes "Winds". Hoiby, Leisner, Rusche, A. Thomas: "Winds"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. There came a wind like a bugle  [sung text checked 1 time]
There came a Wind like a Bugle — It quivered through the Grass And a Green Chill upon the Heat So ominous did pass We barred the Windows and the Doors As from an Emerald Ghost — The Doom's electric Moccasin That very instant passed — On a strange Mob of panting Trees And Fences fled away And Rivers where the Houses ran Those looked that lived — that Day — The Bell within the steeple wild The flying tidings told — How much can come And much can go, And yet abide the World!
Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission