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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation © by Lawrence Snyder
Die Göttin im Putzzimmer
Language: German (Deutsch)
Welche chaotische Haushälterei! Welches erotische Tausenderlei! Alle die Nisch'chen, Alle die [Zellchen]1, Alle die Tischchen, All' die Gestellchen! Fächelchen, Schreinchen, Alle voll Quästchen; Perlchen und Steinchen All' in den Kästchen! Blinkende Ringelchen, Schimmernde Kettchen, Goldene Dingelchen! Silberne Blättchen! Nadel und Nädelchen, Hacken und Häckchen, Faden und Fädelchen, Flecke und Fleckchen! Allerlei Wickelchen, Allerlei Schleifchen, Allerlei Zwickelchen, Allerlei Streifchen! In der Verwirrung Buntem Verstrick, Vor der Verirrung Banget der Blick. Welche gewaltige Zaubrin muß sein, Die das zwiespaltige Zwingt zum Verein? Dort aus der Thüre Kommt sie gegangen. -- Seht nur die Schnüre! Seht nur die Spangen! Alle die Sächelchen, Wie sie sich regen, Ihr aus den Fächelchen Hüpfen entgegen! Alle die [Dingerchen]2, Bänderchen, Miederchen, Ihr um die Fingerchen, Ihr um die Gliederchen! Plötzlich von unten Steht sie bis oben All' mit dem bunten Flitter umwoben. Alles, wie fügt sich's Still und einträchtiglich, Legt sich's, begnügt sich's, Wie sie's will mächtiglich. Die Elemente Hat sie verbunden, Hat in's Getrennte Ganzes empfunden. Und aus dem lebenden Inneren Hauch Wird dem Umgebenden Leben erst auch. Schöpfrin, Entfalterin Himmlischer Zier, Stehst du, Gestalterin Muse, vor mir? Oder Du, Liebe, Einigerin, Ird'scher Getriebe Reinigerin? Denn nur ihr Beide Ordnet zum Eins Buntes Geschmeide Menschlichen Seins. Denn nur ihr Beide Wandelt das Nichts, Chaos, zum Kleide [Himmlischen]3 Lichts.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 Loewe: "Zelten"
2 Loewe: "Dingelchen"
3 Loewe: "Himmlisches"
Researcher for this page: Lawrence Snyder
1 Loewe: "Zelten"
2 Loewe: "Dingelchen"
3 Loewe: "Himmlisches"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Die Göttin im Putzzimmer", appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in 4. Haus und Jahr, in 2. Zweite Reihe. Fest- und Trauerklänge [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 Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Die Göttin im Putzzimmer", op. 73 (1838-39) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Die Göttin im Putzzimmer", 1935 [ SSAATTBB chorus a cappella ], London, Boosey & Hawkes [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La deessa al lligador", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Lawrence Snyder) , "The goddess in the dressing-room", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Lawrence Snyder
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 76
Word count: 216
The goddess in the dressing‑room
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
What a chaotic Household! What an erotic Myriad! All these niches, All these canopies, All these tables, All these stands! Compartments, niches, All hung with tassels; Pearls and gemstones All in little caskets! Gleaming rings, Shimmering chains, Golden baubles! Silver leaves! Needles & pins, Hooks and eyelets, Threads and twines, Patches and mendings! All kinds of wrappings, All kinds of ribbons, All kinds of gussets, All kinds of stripings! In the confusion Of colorful tangles, From confusion Fears one's glance. What a powerful Sorceress must be, That of this division Can force a unity? There from the portals She walks in. Look at the ribbons! Just look at the clasps! All these effects, How they bestir themselves, From their little niches All hopping towards her. All the little knick-knacks Ribbons, stays, Around her fingers, Surrounding her limbs! Suddenly from bottom To top she stands All with colorful Spangles wrapped around her. Everything, how it orders itself Still and harmoniously, Reposes itself, contents itself, To her powerful will. The elements Has she bound, Has in the separateness Sensed a Whole. And from the living Inner breath Comes to her the surroundings Life finally as well. Creator, Unfolder, Heavenly Ornament, Do you stand before me, The Muse of Formation? Or are You, Love, Accorder, Of earthly Enmeshment The Simplifier? For only you both Unify The colorful jewelry Of human existence. For only you both Transform nothingness, Chaos, into raiment Of heavenly light.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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 Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Die Göttin im Putzzimmer", appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in 4. Haus und Jahr, in 2. Zweite Reihe. Fest- und Trauerklänge
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 76
Word count: 240