by
Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
Sommersneige
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG FRE
Der grüne Sommer ist so leise
Geworden, dein kristallenes Antlitz.
Am Abendweiher starben die Blumen,
Ein erschrockener Amselruf.
Vergebliche Hoffnung des Lebens.
Schon rüstet Zur Reise sich die Schwalbe im Haus
Und die Sonne versinkt am Hügel;
Schon winkt zur Sternenreise die Nacht.
Stille der Dörfer; es tönen rings
Die verlassenen Wälder. Herz,
Neige dich nun liebender
Über die ruhige Schläferin.
Der grüne Sommer ist so leise
Geworden und es läutet der Schritt
Des Fremdlings durch die silberne Nacht.
Gedächte ein blaues Wild seines Pfads,
Des Wohllauts seiner geistlichen Jahre!
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):
- by Wilhelm Killmayer (1927 - 2017), "Sommersneige", 1993 [ tenor and piano ], from Trakl-Lieder I, no. 5, Mainz, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Josef Schelb (1894 - 1977), "Sommersneige", first performed 1964 [ soprano, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello ], from 4 Gesänge nach Texten von Georg Trakl, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Thomas F. Schubert (b. 1961), "Sommersneige" [ high voice and instrumental ensemble or piano ], from Auch will die Seele stille sich bereiten - Gesänge nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Summer's decline", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Déclin de l'été", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-03-06
Line count: 17
Word count: 90
Summer's decline
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The verdant summer has been growing
so muted, your countenance of crystal.
By the vespertine pond the flowers died,
an alarmed blackbird's call.
In vain is the hope of life. Prepared is
the swallow at home for its journey
and the sun is sinking by the hill;
night beckons to travel to the stars.
Silence in hamlets. Around resound
the deserted forests. Heart,
bend now with deeper love
over the placidly sleeping girl.
The verdant summer has been growing
so muted, and the stranger's footstep
is ringing through the silvery night.
Would a blue deer think of his pathways,
the concord of his spiritual years!
Text Authorship:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2010-06-14
Line count: 17
Word count: 105