by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Ich sah als Knabe Blumen blühn
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Ich sah als Knabe Blumen blühn -
Ich weiß nicht mehr, was war es doch?
Ich sah die Sonne drüber glühn -
Mich dünkt, ich seh' es noch.

Es war ein Duft, es war ein Glanz,
Die Seele sog ihn durstend ein.
Ich pflückte sie zu einem Kranz - 
Wo mag er blieben sein?

Ich such' an jedem Blümchen nach
Um jenen Schmelz, um jenes Licht,
Ich forsche jeden Sommertag -
Doch solche find' ich nicht.

Ihr wußtet nimmer, was ich trieb?
Ich suchte meinen alten Kranz.
Er war so frisch, so licht, so lieb -
Es war der Jugendglanz.

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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):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Heimwee III", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Homesickness III", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Mal du pays III", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Nostalgia III", copyright © 2008, (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: 16
Word count: 95

Homesickness III
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
As a boy, I saw flowers blooming -
I don't know any longer - what was it then?
I saw the sun glowing above -
It seems to me I see it yet.

There was a fragrance, there was a radiance;
My soul drank it thirstily in.
I plucked them and made a wreath -
Where can it be?

I seek now on every blossom
For that certain sheen, that certain light -
I search every summer's day,
Yet I have found no such thing.

You never knew what I was doing?
I was searching for my old wreath.
It was so fresh, so light, so lovely -
It was the luster of youth.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 108