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Wenn ich Kinder spielen sehe Und ihr Spiel nicht mehr verstehe Und ihr Lachen fremd und töricht klingt, Ach das ist vom bösen Feinde, Den ich ewig ferne meinte, Eine Mahnung, die nicht mehr verklingt. Wenn ich Liebesleute sehe Und zufrieden weiter gehe Ohne Sehnsucht nach dem Paradies, Ach das ist ein still Verzichten Auf des Herzens tiefstes Dichten, Das der Jugend Ewigkeit verhieß. Wenn ich böse Reden höre Und mich nicht mehr heiß empöre Und gelassen tu, als hört ich's nicht, O dann zuckt im Herzen, Still und ohne Schmerzen, Und erlischt das heilige Licht.
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, page 210.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Absterben", written 1912 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Heinz-Otto Hoffmann (b. 1902), "Absterben", 1932-47 [ voice and piano ], from 21 Lieder, no. 18 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Justus Hermann Wetzel (1879 - 1973), "Absterben", op. 11 no. 9, published 1925 [ voice and piano ], from Zweiter Liederkreis - 15 Gedichte von Hermann Hesse, no. 9 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Morir-se", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Extinction", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Dépérissement", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-27
Line count: 18
Word count: 96
Quand je vois jouer des enfants Et que je ne comprends plus leur jeu, Et que leurs rires sonnent étranges et idiots, Hélas, cela vient du misérable ennemi Que j'ai toujours cru au loin, C'est un avertissement qui ne cessera plus. Quand je vois des gens amoureux Et que je poursuis mon chemin content, Sans la nostalgie du paradis, Hélas, c'est un silencieux renoncement À la plus profonde poésie du cœur Qui promet l'éternité à la jeunesse. Quand j'entends de mauvais discours Et que je ne m'indigne plus, Et que je fais comme si je n'entendais pas, Alors mon cœur bronche En silence et sans douleur, Et la sainte lumière s'éteint.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2017 by Pierre Mathé, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Absterben", written 1912
This text was added to the website: 2017-01-09
Line count: 18
Word count: 111