Written in the sand | That the beautiful and bewitching

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by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

In Sand geschrieben

(Sung text for setting by F. Bolli)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG

Daß das Schöne und Berückende
Nur ein Hauch von Schauer sei,
Dass das Köstliche, Entzückende,
Holde ohne Dauer sei:
Wolke, Blume, Seifenblase,
Feuerwerk und Kinderlachen,
Frauenblick im Spiegelglase
Und viele andre wunderbare Sachen,
Dass sie, kaum entdeckt, vergehen,
Nur von Augenblickes Dauer,
Nur ein Duft und Windeswehen,
Ach, wir wissen es mit Trauer.
 ...

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Note: the text above is taken from lines 1-12 of the original text.

Composition:

Frédéric Bolli

Text Authorship:

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "In Sand geschrieben", written 1947

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Escrit a la sorra", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Written in the sand", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-04-30
Line count: 52
Word count: 238

Written in the sand

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Bolli)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

That the beautiful and bewitching
Is only a breath of awe,
That the precious, the enchanting,
The lovely is without permanence:
Cloud, flower, soap bubble,
Fireworks and the laughter of children,
The glance of a woman in the mirror
And many other wonderful things,
That they, barely discovered, fade away,
Last only a moment,
Are only a scent and a waft of wind,
Ah, we know that with mourning.
 ...

Note: the text above is taken from lines 1-12 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "In Sand geschrieben", written 1947
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This text was added to the website: 2018-02-06
Line count: 52
Word count: 318