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Leise wie die Gondeln auf den klaren Morgenleuchtenden Kanälen fahren, Also wiegt im blauen Meer der Tage Unsrer Liebe ungestörte Waage, Also gleiten leicht und ohne Ende Uns die Stunden durch die lassen Hände: Eine, die von Lustgelächter funkelt, Eine, die in Liebesdämmer dunkelt, Eine, die von Liedern überflutet, Eine, die sich lautlos süß verblutet. Schweigend ruhen wir und staunend sehen Wir die Schönen auf- und untergehen, Rudertropfen von den Händen wischend, Unsre Finger schwesterlich vermischend, Selten nur nach einem Kuß verlangend, Diesen schweigsam gebend und empfangend ... Also gleiten leicht und ohne Ende Stunden uns und Tage durch die Hände.
About the headline (FAQ)
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 140.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Leise wie die Gondeln . . .", written 1901 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Wilhelm Lache , "Leise wie die Gondeln auf den klaren", 1953 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 100
As quietly as the gondolas move upon the clear canals That shine with the radiance of morning, Thus, in the blue ocean of days, rocks The undisturbed balance of our love, Thus, lightly and without end, The hours glide through our languid hands. One that sparkles with joyful laughter, One that darkens in the twilight of love, One that overflows with songs, One that silently and sweetly bleeds to death. Silently we rest and see, marvelling, How the lovely ones rise and set, From our hands we brush the drops splashed from the oars, Our fingers entwine like sisters, We only rarely yearn for a kiss, Giving and receiving it silently . . . Thus, lightly and without end, hours And days glide through our hands.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Leise wie die Gondeln . . ." = "As quietly as the gondolas . . ."
"Leise wie die Gondeln auf den klaren" = "As quietly as the gondolas upon the clear"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Leise wie die Gondeln . . .", written 1901
This text was added to the website: 2019-01-25
Line count: 18
Word count: 126