Sonnenuntergang
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Sonne, deine letzten Strahlen,
Warum leuchten sie so roth?
Bleiche Wangen pflegt zu malen
Sonst der Allbezwinger Tod!
Aber du, in Purpurfarben
Sinkst du feierlich hinab,
Goldig rothe Feuergarben
Leuchten über deinem Grab.
Schau' die Berge, schau' die Fluten,
Blick' hinauf zum Firmament;
Alles steht in süßen Gluten,
Alles flammt und glüht und brennt!
Selbst der Thau im Kelch der Rose
Glänzt in goldnem Widerschein,
Und das Meer, das grenzenlose,
Taucht sich ganz in Purpur ein!
Bis die Feuersäulen sinken,
Leis und mälig, still und sacht,
Und die braunen Schatten winken,
Sei willkommen, liebe Nacht!
Und aus dunkler Himmelsferne,
Wie zerstreutes Sonnengold,
Leuchten kleine fromme Sterne,
Und sie nicken sanft und hold.
Sinnig Gleichniß unsrer Tage!
Laß, wie letztes Sonnenglüh'n,
An der Hoffnung Sarkophage,
Liebe, deine Fackeln sprühn!
Aber senkt die Nacht der Schmerzen
Sich auf's wache Auge doch,
Glänzen dem verlassnen Herzen
Sterne der Erinnerung noch.
Confirmed with Robert Prutz, Buch der Liebe, Dritte Auflage, Leipzig: Verlag von Ernst Keil, 1874, pages 226-227.
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) , "Sunset", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2024-01-15
Line count: 32
Word count: 147
Sunset
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Your last beams, sun,
Why do they glow so redly?
All-conquering death usually
Paints pale cheeks!
But you, in crimson hue,
Descend festively,
Golden-red fiery sheaves
Shine over your grave.
See the mountains, see the waters,
Look up to the firmament;
Everything basks in a sweet glow,
Everything flames and blazes and burns!
Even the dew in the chalice of the rose
Sparkles in a golden reflection,
And the sea, the boundless sea,
Immerses itself utterly in crimson!
Until the fire-pillars sink,
Quietly and gradually, silently and gently,
And the brown shadows beckon,
Be welcome, dear night!
And from the dark distances of heaven,
Like spilled gold from the sun,
Little pious stars shine,
And they nod gently and beautifully.
Apt parable of our days!
Like the last glowing of the sun,
At the sarcophagus of hope
Let, oh Love, your torches spew [sparks]!
But when the night of pain nevertheless
Descends upon the wakeful eye,
For the forsaken heart there still
Sparkle stars of remembrance.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: 2024-01-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 166