Zu wenig Morgen sind’s. Elf Lieder für Sopran und Klavier

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

by Ricky Ian Gordon (b. 1956)

View original-language texts alone: Too Few the Mornings Be. Eleven Songs for Soprano and Piano

1. Too few the mornings be
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Too few the mornings be,
Too scant the nights.
No lodging can be had
For the delights
That come to earth to stay,
But no apartment find
And ride away.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
1.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zu wenig Morgen sind’s,
und Nächte kaum.
Für Freuden findet sich
kein Herbergsraum.
Gern weilten sie an ird’schem Ort,
finden jedoch kein Quartier 
und reiten fort.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2021 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2021-03-17
Line count: 7
Word count: 26

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. If all the griefs I am to have  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
If all the griefs I am to have
Would only come today,
I am so happy I believe
They'd laugh and run away. 

If all the joys I am to have
Would only come today,
They could not be so big as this
That happens to me now.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
2.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn alles Leid heut träfe ein,
das je mir zugedacht,
lief’ es, säh’ es mich glücklich sein,
glaub’ ich, davon und lacht’.

Wenn alle Freud heut träfe ein,
die je mir würd’ bereit’,
sie könnte nicht so riesig sein
wie die zugegen heut.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2021 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2021-03-17
Line count: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. The bustle in a house  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth, -

The sweeping up the heart,
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Geschäftigkeit im Haus
morgens nach einem End,
ist wohl das feierlichste Tun,
das man auf Erden kennt.

Man fegt die Herzen aus
und legt die Lieb’ zur Seit’,
die erst wieder zum Einsatz kommt
in ferner Ewigkeit.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2021 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2021-03-17
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. This is my letter to the world  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
This is my letter to the world, 
That never wrote to me, - 
The simple news that nature told, 
With tender magesty. 

Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
4.
[Translation not yet available]
5. You cannot put a Fire out  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
You cannot put a Fire out -
A Thing that can ignite
Can go, itself, without a Fan -
Opon the slowest night -

You cannot fold a Flood -
And put it in a Drawer -
Because the Winds would find it out -
And tell your Cedar Floor -

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
5.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Solch Feuer nicht zu löschen ist,
denn, was sich selbst entfacht,
brennt ohne Fächeln vor sich hin
über die längste Nacht.

Die Flut ist unfaltbar,
im Schrank schlecht abgelegt.
Der Wind würd’ sicher dess’ gewahr,
verriet’s deinem Parkett.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2021 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2021-03-17
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Bee! I'm expecting you!  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Bee! I'm expecting you!
Was saying Yesterday
To Somebody you know
That you were due --

The Frogs got Home last Week --
Are settled, and at work --
Birds, mostly back --
The Clover warm and thick --

You'll get my Letter by
The Seventeenth; Reply
Or better, be with me --
Yours, Fly.

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Confirmed with The Poems of Emily Dickinson, ed. R.W. Franklin, Volume 2, Cambridge, MA and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1998, Poem 983.


by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
6.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Biene! Ich erwarte dich!
Seist fällig eigentlich,
erzählte gestern ich
einem, den du kennst.

Seit letzter Woche sind
die Frösche hier am Werk,
die meisten Vögel auch,
der Klee steht warm und dicht.

Bis Siebzehnten erreicht
mein Brief dich; schreib zurück;
noch besser, du kommst gleich -
Gruß, Fliege.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2016 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-03-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 48

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
7. Poor little heart!  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Poor little heart!
Did they forget thee?
Then dinna care! Then dinna care!

Proud little heart!
Did they forsake thee?
Be debonair! Be debonair!

Frail little heart!
I would not break thee:
Could'st credit me? Could'st credit me?

Gay little heart!
Like morning glory
Thou'll wilted be; thou'll wilted be!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
7. Trauriges Herz!
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Trauriges Herz!
Vergaßen sie dich?
Ärger dich nicht! Ärger dich nicht!

Hoffärtig Herz!
Verließen sie dich!?
Hab Zuversicht! Hab Zuversicht!

Fragiles Herz!
Nie breche ich dich:
Baust du auf mich? Baust du auf mich?

Heiteres Herz!
Wie Windengewächs
welkst du dahin; welkst du dahin!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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Translation of title "Poor little heart!" = "Trauriges Herz!"


This text was added to the website: 2018-06-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 44

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
9. How happy is the little stone  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
9.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie glücklich doch der kleine Stein,
der auf dem Weg ist, ganz allein,
der Karrieren ignoriert,
in Nöten furchtlos reagiert;
ein Universum en passant 
zog ihm ’nen braunen Mantel an.
Frei wie die Sonn, für sich allein
kann leuchten er, oder zu zwein.
Hält sich an obersten Entscheid
in ungezwungner Einfachheit.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2018-07-23
Line count: 10
Word count: 51

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
10. Estranged from Beauty  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Estranged from Beauty - none can be - 
For Beauty is Infinity - 
And power to be finite ceased 
Before Identity was leased -

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
10.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit Schönheit niemand sich entzweit,
denn Schönheit ist Unendlichkeit.
Die Kraft, endlich zu sein, entschwand,
eh man pachtweise zu sich fand.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2021 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2021-03-17
Line count: 4
Word count: 21

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
11. Will there really be a morning?  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Will there really be a morning?
Is there such a thing as day?
Could I see it from the mountains
If I were as tall as they?

Has it feet like water-lilies?
Has it feathers like a bird?
Is it brought from famous countries
Of which I have never heard?

Oh, some scholar! Oh, some sailor!
Oh, some wise man from the skies!
Please to tell a little pilgrim
Where the place called morning lies!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
11.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wird es „Morgen“ wirklich geben?
Gibt es so etwas wie „Tag“?
Könnt ich’s von ganz oben sehen,
wenn ich hätt’ der Berge Schlag?

Hat es Sprossen wie Seerosen?
Federn, wie’s der Vogel hat?
Aus fernem Land zu uns gestoßen,
von dem man keine Ahnung hat?

Ach, Gelehrter! Ach,Matrose!
Weiser, der vom Himmel fliegt!
Sagt einem, der auf dem Weg ist,
wo, was „Morgen“ heißt, denn liegt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2016 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-11-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann