by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Am Felsenbruch im wilden Tann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Am Felsenbruch im wilden Tann
Liegt tot und öd ein niedrig Haus;
Der Efeu steigt das Dach hinan,
Waldvöglein fliegen ein und aus.

Und drin am blanken Eichentisch
Verzaubert schläft ein Mägdelein;
Die Wangen blühen ihr rosenfrisch,
Auf den Locken wallt ihr der Sonnenschein.

Die Bäume rauschen im Waldesdicht,
Eintönig fällt der Quelle Schaum;
Es lullt sie ein, es läßt sie nicht,
Sie sinket tief von Traum zu Traum.

Nur wenn im Arm die Zither klingt,
Da hell der Wind vorüberzieht,
Wenn gar zu laut die Drossel singt,
Zuckt manches Mal ihr Augenlid.

Dann wirft sie das blonde Köpfchen herum,
Daß am Hals das güldene Kettlein klingt;
Auf fliegen die Vögel, der Wald ist stumm,
Und zurück in den Schlummer das Mägdlein sinkt.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Storms Werke, herausgegeben von Theodor Hertel, ertes Band, Mehers Klassiker-Ausgaben, Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig und Wien, 1918, page 21.


Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "Beside the fault in the rocks in the wild pine forest", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Dans une sapinière reculée", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2013-04-21
Line count: 20
Word count: 123

Beside the fault in the rocks in the wild pine forest
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Beside the fault in the rocks in the wild pine forest
Stands dead and desolate a low house;
The ivy is climbing up the roof,
Woodland birds fly in and out.

Within at the bare oak table
A maiden sleeps an enchanted sleep;
Her cheeks are blooming in rosy freshness,
Sunshine is streaming down upon her curls.

The trees are soughing in the dense woods,
The foam drips monotonously from the water spring;
It lulls her to sleep, it does not leave her,
She sinks deeply into dream after dream.

Only when in someone's arms a zither sounds,
When the wind is passing brightly by,
When the thrush sings very loudly,
Her eyelid sometimes trembles.

Then she tosses her blonde head about,
So that the golden chain at her neck jingles;
The birds fly up, the woods are mute,
And the maiden sinks back into slumber.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2013-12-12
Line count: 20
Word count: 146