by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Aufhorchen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG
Ein Klang so zart, ein Hauch so neu
Geht durch den grauen Tag,
Wie Vogelflügelflattern scheu,
Wie Frühlingsduft so zart.

Aus Lebens Morgenstunden her
Erinnerungen wehn,
Wie Silberschauer überm Meer
Aufzittern und vergehn.

Vom Heut zum Gestern scheint es weit,
Zum lang Vergessenen nah,
Die Vorwelt liegt und Märchenzeit,
Ein offener Garten, da.

Vielleicht ist heut mein Urahn wach,
Der tausend Jahr geruht
Und nun mit meiner Stimme sprach,
Sich wärmt in meinem Blut.

Vielleicht ein Bote draußen steht
Und tritt gleich bei mir ein;
Vielleicht, noch eh der Tag vergeht,
Werd ich zu Hause sein.

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.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 375-376.


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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Escoltar", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "To listen intently", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2014-03-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 96

To listen intently
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
A sound so delicate, a breath so new
Passes through the grey day,
As shy as the fluttering of a bird's wings,
As delicate as the scents of spring.

From the morning hours of life
Memories waft,
As silvery shivers above the sea
Rise up trembling and pass away.

It seems so far from today to yesterday.
[But] near to what was long forgotten;
The primeval world and the time of fairy tales
Lie [before me], an open garden.

Perhaps today my ancestor is awake,
He who rested for a thousand years
And now spoke with my voice,
Who warms himself within my blood.

Perhaps a messenger stands without
And shall immediately enter my abode;
Perhaps, even before this day has passed,
I shall be home.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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: 2014-03-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 126