by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Gift
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Wem einmal Gift ins Leben ist geflossen,
Nie wird er wieder, wie er vormals war.
Der bitt're Tropfen bleibt in ihm verschlossen,
Wenn auch des Lebens Becher wieder klar:

Wohl kann er Glück, wohl kann er Freude fühlen,
Wohl kann noch grünen seines Lebens Baum.
Doch wie ein Reif, fällt in der Nacht, der stillen,
Auf's neue Blühn ein alter, finstrer Traum.

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):

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Poison", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2022-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 62

Poison
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
He into whose life poison has once flowed
Shall never be as he was before.
The bitter drop remains sealed up within him.
Even when his goblet of life once more [becomes] clear:

To be sure, he can feel happiness, feel joy,
His tree of life can still burgeon in greenness.
But in the night, the quiet night, like a frost
There falls upon the new blossoming an old, darksome dream.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2022-10-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 71