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

Wie eine weiße Wolke
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): ENG FRE
Wie eine weiße Wolke 
Am hohen Himmel steht,
So weiß und schön und ferne
Bist du, Elisabeth.

Die Wolke geht und wandert,
Kaum hast du ihrer acht,
Und doch durch deine Träume
Geht sie in dunkler Nacht.

Geht und erglänzt so silbern,
Daß fortan ohne Rast
Du nach der weißen Wolke
Ein süßes Heimweh hast.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 2 Die Romane, Peter Camenzind, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2001, page 170.

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 69.


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 (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , no title, copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this text: Claus Swienty , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 55

Like a white cloud
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Like a white cloud
Upon the high heavens,
So white and beautiful and distant
Are you, Elizabeth.

The cloud departs and wanders
You hardly take note of it,
And yet through your dreams
It drifts in the dark night.

Drifts and shines so silverily
That thereafter without rest
You suffer from a sweet homesickness
For the white cloud.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Elisabeth aus " = "Elizabeth from "Peter Camenzind""
"Elisabeth" = "Elizabeth"
"Wie eine weiße Wolke" = "Like a white cloud"


Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-12-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 58