by
Ottokar Kernstock (1848 - 1928)
Horch! Pochte es an mein Fenster nicht?
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): CHI ENG
Horch! Pochte es an mein Fenster nicht?
Schaut nicht durch die Scheibe, die trübe,
Beleuchtet [von flackerndem]1 Mondenlicht,
Ein wohlbekanntes, süßes Gesicht,
Mit Augen voll zärtlicher Liebe?
Wird draußen nicht eine Stimme laut,
Schon lange nimmer vernommen?
"Kommt, Kinder!" flüstert sie, "kommt und schaut!
Die Weihnachtstanne ist aufgebaut,
Das [Christkindlein]2 ist gekommen!" --
Ein Baumzweig schlug an dein Fernsterlein,
Der Nachtwind regt sein Gefieder.
Geh schlafen, du Tor! Laß [dein]3 Lauschen sein!
Kein Christkind kehrt mehr bei dir ein,
Und die Toten [kommen]4 nicht wieder.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with Dr. Johann Ranftl, "Ottokar Kernstock," in: Der Gral. Monatschrift für schöne Literatur, 2. Jahrgang, 11. Heft (15. August 1908), page 490
1 Marx: "vom flackernden"
2 Marx: "Christkind"
3 Marx: "das"
4 Marx: "kehren"
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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CHI Chinese (中文) [singable] (Dr Huaixing Wang) , "十二月", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "December", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ian Davis , Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2008-06-16
Line count: 15
Word count: 84
December
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Hark! Was there not a tapping at my window?
Through the windowpane, the dull [windowpane]
Lit by flickering moonlight,
Is there not a well-known, sweet face looking in,
With eyes full of gentle love?
Is there not a voice to be discerned outdoors,
[A voice] that I have not heard for a long time?
'Come, children!' it whispers, 'come and see!
The Christmas tree has been set up,
The Christ-child has come!'
A tree branch knocked at your window,
The night wind is lifting its wings.
Go to bed, you fool! Leave off [your]1 listening!
No Christ-child is ever going to visit your abode again.
And the dead do not return.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 Marx: "this"
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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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2013-12-16
Line count: 15
Word count: 111