by
Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
Was leise gehet unter Herbstesbäumen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG FRE
Was leise gehet unter Herbstesbäumen
Am grünen Fluß, darüber Möven gleiten --
Es fällt das Laub; Einfalt dunkeler Zeiten.
's ist Gottes Ruh. Die Abendschatten säumen
Ein schwarzer Vogel singt in Herbstesbäumen.
Ein Händefalten müde und einträchtig
Am Abend folgen ihren Vogelzeichen
Die Augen, ehe sie dem Schlummer weichen --
Erinnerung des Knaben sanft und schmächtig.
Ein schwarzer Vogel singt in Herbstesbäumen
Den Frieden dieser Tage süß und mächtig
Auch will die Seele stille sich bereiten.
About the headline (FAQ)
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):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Childhood", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Bertram Kottmann , Maria Nimmerfall
This text was added to the website: 2010-11-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 74
Childhood
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
What lightly walketh under trees in autumn
by the green stream, o’er which seagulls are gliding -
the leaves, they fall; pureness of darker ages.
’Tis godly peace. The evening shadows tarry
a black-backed bird sings in the trees of autumn.
A folding of the hands, peaceful and tired;
at night the eyes follow their bird sign omens,
ere they subside, give way to tranquil slumber -
memory of the boy child, soft and slender.
A black-backed bird sings in the trees of autumn
the peace of these old days, so sweet and potent,
the soul, too, wants to be prepared in silence.
Authorship:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2016-06-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 103