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Als endlich sie den Sarg hier abgesetzt, Den Deckel hoben noch zu guter Letzt, In jenem Augenblick hab ich gesehn, Wie just die Sonne schied im Untergehn. Beleuchtet von dem abendroten Strahl Sah ich all die Gesichter noch einmal, Den Turmknopf oben in der goldnen Ruh - Es war ein Blitz, sie schlossen wieder zu. Ich sah auch zwischen Auf- und Niederschlag, Wie Märzenschnee rings auf den Gräbern lag; Das Wetter muß seither gebrochen sein, Denn feucht dringt es in diesen leichten Schrein. Ich hör ein Knistern, wie wenn sacht und leis Sich Schollen lösen von des Winters Eis; Ich ärmster Lenzfreund bin ja auch erwacht Und kann nicht regen mich in dunkler Nacht! Wie jeglich Samenkorn sich mächtig dehnt, Der junge Halm ans warme Licht sich sehnt, So reck ich den gefangnen, meinen Leib, Doch ist's ein fruchtlos grimmer Zeitvertreib! Hört man nicht klopfen laut da obenwärts Hier mein zum Blühen so bereites Herz? Sie wissen nicht, wie es da unten tut, Und keine Wünschelrute zeigt dies Blut! Käm auch geschlichen so von ungefähr Ein alter Schatz- und Quellengräber her, Sein Stäblein, nur auf Geld und Gut gericht, Es spürt' das warme rote Brünnlein nicht.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), no title, appears in Gesammelte Gedichte, in Lebendig begraben, no. 6 [author's text not yet checked 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 Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Als endlich sie den Sarg hier abgesetzt", op. 40 no. 6 (1926) [bass or baritone, mixed chorus, and orchestra], from Lebendig begraben: 14 Gesänge nach der gleichnamigen Gedichtfolge von Gottfried Keller, no. 6, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Martin Stock) , title 1: "When finally they lowered the coffin here", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Quand finalement ils ont déposé là le cercueil", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 196
When finally they lowered the coffin here, and lifted the lid one last time - In that moment I saw how the sun was just about to set. Lit by the sunset's reddish glow I saw all those faces just one more time, The steeple, high above in the golden serenity, A flash it was - and then they closed the lid again. Between the brief opening and closing I saw How the surrounding graves were covered by March snow; Since then there must have been a change in the weather, As moisture's filtering through the thin casket walls. I hear a creaking sound, as if softly Slates of winter ice come loose; I, poorest spring's friend that I am, also wake And cannot move a limb in the dark night! Like seeds that swell up mightily, Like seedlings, craving the warm sun, I stretch my body, this prisoner, But all my sad efforts are in vain! Above me, don't they hear the loud beating Of my heart that longs to blossom here? They do not know how it is deep down And no divining rod points to this blood! Even if, by chance, an old fellow Came sneaking along, digging for treasures and water, His tiny rod, poking only for money and fortunes, Would never feel the warm red well.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 by Martin Stock, (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 Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), no title, appears in Gesammelte Gedichte, in Lebendig begraben, no. 6
This text was added to the website: 2004-04-10
Line count: 28
Word count: 221