The wanderer | Ever the white night rests against the hill

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann

Der Wanderer

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Immer lehnt am Hügel die weiße Nacht,
Wo in Silbertönen die Pappel ragt,
Stern' und Steine sind.

Schlafend wölbt sich über den Gießbach der Steg,
Folgt dem Knaben ein erstorbenes Antlitz,
Sichelmond in rosiger Schlucht

Ferne preisenden Hirten. In altem Gestein
Schaut aus kristallenen Augen die Kröte,
Erwacht der blühende Wind, die Vogelstimme des Totengleichen
Und die Schritte ergrünen leise im Wald.

Dieses erinnert an Baum und Tier. Langsame Stufen von Moos;
Und der Mond,
Der glänzend in traurigen Wassern versinkt.

Jener kehrt wieder und wandelt an grünem Gestade,
Schaukelt auf schwarzem Gondelschiffchen durch die verfallene Stadt.

Text Authorship:

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Der Wanderer", appears in Sebastian im Traum, in Siebengesang des Todes, 2. Fassung (Second version) [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 Philippe Hersant (b. 1948), "Der Wanderer", 2002, first performed 2002 [ men's chorus and chamber orchestra or piano ], Éditions Durand [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "The wanderer", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le voyageur", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-06-06
Line count: 15
Word count: 97

The wanderer

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Ever the white night rests against the hill,
where the poplar looms in silver tones,
where stars and stones are.

Asleep, the footbridge arches over the mountain torrent,
an ossified countenance follows the boy,
sickle moon in a rosy gorge

far away from praising shepherds. In old rocks
the toad stares crystal-eyed,
the blooming wind awakens, the birdcall of the deathlike one,
and the footsteps gently turn green in the woods.

This reminds of tree and animal. Slow stages of moss;
and the moon,
that sinks gleamingly in gloomy waters.

She returns again and walks on green shores,
sways in a black gondola across the fallen city.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Der Wanderer", appears in Sebastian im Traum, in Siebengesang des Todes, 2. Fassung (Second version)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 15
Word count: 107