by
Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
Das Leben vergeht wie ein Blitzstrahl
Language: German (Deutsch) after the Chinese (中文)
Our translations: CAT ENG
Das Leben vergeht wie ein Blitzstrahl,
Dessen Glanz kaum so lange währt, daß man ihn sehen kann.
Wenn die Erde und der Himmel ewig unbeweglich stehen,
Wie rasch fliegt die wechselnde Zeit über das Anlitz der Menschen!
O du, der du beim vollen Becher sitzest und nicht trinkst,
O sage mir, auf wen wartest du noch?
About the headline (FAQ)
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 8 Die Erzählungen. 1911-1954, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2001, page 296.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Li-Tai-Po (701 - 762) [text unavailable]
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):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Wine song", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website: 2009-06-13
Line count: 6
Word count: 56
La vida passa com l’esclat d’un llamp
Language: Catalan (Català) after the German (Deutsch)
La vida passa com l’esclat d’un llamp,
del qual la resplendor dura a penes prou perquè hom la pugui veure.
Quan la terra i el cel resten immòbils per sempre,
que ràpidament vola el temps canviant per la faç dels homes!
Oh tu, que seus amb la copa plena i no beus,
oh, digues-me, a qui esperes encara?
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Weinlied" = "Oda al vi"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Catalan (Català) copyright © 2026 by Salvador Pila, (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:
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Li-Tai-Po (701 - 762) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2026-03-28
Line count: 6
Word count: 58
