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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)

Das Alter
 (Sung text for setting by W. Zillig)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE ITA
Hoch mit den Wolken geht der Vögel Reise,
Die Erde schläft, kaum noch Astern prangen,
Verstummt die Lieder, die so fröhlich klangen,
Und trüber Winter deckt die weiten Kreise.

Die Wanduhr pickt, im Zimmer singet leise
Waldvöglein noch, so du im Herbst gefangen.
Ein Bilderbuch scheint alles, was vergangen,
Du blätterst drin, geschützt vor Sturm und Eise.

So mild ist oft das Alter mir erschienen:
Wart nur, bald taut es von den Dächern wieder
Und über Nacht hat sich die Luft gewendet.

Ans Fenster klopft ein Bot' mit frohen Mienen,
Du trittst erstaunt heraus -- und kehrst nicht wieder,
Denn endlich kommt der Lenz, der nimmer endet.

Composition:

    Set to music by Winfried (Petrus Ignatius) Zillig (1905 - 1963), "Das Alter" [ alto and orchestra ], from Sieben Sonette nach Gedichten von Joseph von Eichendorff, no. 7

Text Authorship:

  • by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Das Alter"

See other settings of this text.

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Old age", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le vieillard", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Vecchiaia", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Jakob Kellner

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 106

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