by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Himmelstrauer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Am Himmelsantlitz wandelt ein Gedanke,
Die düstre Wolke dort, so bang, so schwer;
Wie auf dem Lager sich der Seelenkranke,
Wirft sich der Strauch im Winde hin und her.

Vom Himmel tönt ein schwermutmattes Grollen,
Die dunkle Wimper blinzet manches Mal,
- So blinzen Augen, wenn sie weinen wollen, -
Und aus der Wimper zuckt ein schwacher Strahl.

Nun schleichen aus dem Moore kühle Schauer
Und leise Nebel übers Heideland;
Der Himmel ließ, nachsinnend seiner Trauer,
Die Sonne lässig fallen aus der Hand.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

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

  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Heaven's grief", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Tristesse du ciel", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Jakob Kellner

This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 81

Heaven's grief
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 Across the face of heaven wanders a thought,
 that dark cloud there, so anxious, so heavy;
 like a man sick to his soul in his bed,
 the bushes whip back and forth in the wind.

 From the sky comes a melancholy and languid rumbling,
 the dark eye blinks many times,
 (thus do eyes blink when they wish to weep)
 and from the eyelid twitches a faint beam.

 Now cool showers creep up from the moors,
 and mists come quietly over the heathlands;
 heaven dwells on its sadness;
 and lets the sun drop from its hand.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 96