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Trakl poems
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by François Glorieux
View original-language texts alone: Traklgedichte
Immer wieder kehrst du Melancholie, O Sanftmut der einsamen Seele. Zu Ende glüht ein goldener Tag. Demutsvoll beugt sich dem Schmerz der Geduldige Tönend von Wohllaut und weichem Wahnsinn. Siehe! es dämmert schon. Wieder kehrt die Nacht und klagt ein Sterbliches Und es leidet ein anderes mit. Schaudern unter herbstlichen Sternen Neigt sich jährlich tiefer das Haupt.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "In ein altes Stammbuch", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
See other settings of this text.
Again and again you return, melancholy, o, meekness of the lonely soul. A golden day glows to its end. Humbly the patient one bows to grief resounding with harmony and mellow madness. Look! It is already dusking. Again night descends and a mortal laments and another shares his sorrow. Shivering under autumn stars the head bends deeper year by year.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "In ein altes Stammbuch", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 10
Word count: 60
Bläuliche Schatten. O ihr dunklen Augen, Die lang mich anschaun im Vorübergleiten. Gitarrenklänge sanft den Herbst begleiten Im Garten, aufgelöst in braunen Laugen. Des Todes ernste Düsternis bereiten Nymphische Hände, an roten Brüsten saugen Verfallne Lippen und in schwarzen Laugen Des Sonnen Jünglings feuchte Locken gleiten.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Melancholie", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
Go to the general single-text view
Bluish shadows. O you dark eyes, giving a long look to me when passing by. Sounds of guitars softly accompany autumn in the garden, dissolved in brownish lyes. Death's solemn somberness prepared by nymphish hands; addicted lips sucking at red breasts and in black lyes we see Helios’s moist curls gliding.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Melancholie", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 51
Dich sing ich wilde Zerklüftung, Im Nachtsturm Aufgetürmtes Gebirge; Ihr grauen Türme Überfließend von höllischen Fratzen, Feurigem Getier, Rauhen Farnen, Fichten, Kristallnen Blumen. Unendliche Qual, Daß du Gott erjagtest Sanfter Geist, Aufseufzend im Wassersturz, In wogenden Föhren. Golden lodern die Feuer Der Völker rings. Über schwärzliche Klippen Stürzt todestrunken Die erglühende Windsbraut, Die blaue Woge Des Gletschers Und es dröhnt Gewaltig die Glocke im Tal: Flammen, Flüche Und die dunklen Spiele der Wollust, Stürmt den Himmel Ein versteinertes Haupt.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Die Nacht", appears in Sebastian im Traum, in Gesang des Abgeschiedenen
See other settings of this text.
First appeared in Der Brenner, 1914/1915.
It is you I sing, wild and deeply fissured rock, In the night storm you mountains towering up; you grey towers overflowing with infernal faces, fiery beasts, rough ferns, spruces, crystal flowers. Infinite agony, so that you strove for God gentle spirit, sighing in the waterfall, in swaying pines. The peoples’ fires blaze golden all around. Over the edge of blackish cliffs, drunk with death, the blushing wind-bride, the blue wave of the glacier go, and the bell in the valley Peals loud and strong: flames, curses and the dark games of lust, a petrified head storms heaven.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Die Nacht", appears in Sebastian im Traum, in Gesang des Abgeschiedenen
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 27
Word count: 98