When the lamp went out by my bed I woke up with the early birds. I sat at my open window with a fresh wreath on my loose hair. The young traveller came along the road in the rosy mist of the morning. A pearl chain was on his neck, and the sun's rays fell on his crown. He stopped before my door and asked me with an eager cry, "Where is she?" For very shame I could not say, "She is I, young traveller, she is I." It was dusk and the lamp was not lit. I was listlessly braiding my hair. The young traveller came on his chariot in the glow of the setting sun. His horses were foaming at the mouth, and there was dust on his garment. He alighted at my door and asked in a tired voice, "Where is she?" For very shame I could not say, "She is I, weary traveller, she is I." It is an April night. The lamp is burning in my room. The breeze of the south comes gently. The noisy parrot sleeps in its cage. My bodice is of the colour of the peacock's throat, and my mantle is green as young grass. I sit upon the floor at the window watching the deserted street. Through the dark night I keep humming, "She is I, despairing traveller, she is I."
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in The Gardener, no. 8 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941) [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Jan Śliwiński (1884 - 1950) , no title, appears in Rabindranath Tagore. Der Gärtner, no. 8 ; composed by Willem de Haan.
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Maximilian Oseyevich Steinberg.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-11-08
Line count: 30
Word count: 231
Als die Lampe an meinem Bett ausging, wachte ich auf mit den frühen Vögeln. Ich saß am offenen Fenster, einen frischen Kranz im losen Haar. Der junge Wanderer kam die Straße entlang im rosigen Nebel des Morgens. Eine Perlenkette trug er um seinen Hals, und die Sonnenstrahlen fielen auf seinen Scheitel. An meiner Tür blieb er stehn und fragte ungestüm: „Wo ist sie?“ Vor lauter Scham vermochte ich nicht zu sagen: „‚Sie‘ bin ich, junger Wanderer, ‚sie‘ bin ich.“ Es war Dämmerung, und die Lampe war nicht angezündet. Gedankenlos flocht ich mein Haar. Der junge Wanderer kam auf seinem Wagen, im Glühen der untergehenden Sonne. Seine Pferde schäumten, und Staub lag auf seinem Kleid. Er stieg ab an meiner Tür und fragte mit müder Stimme: „Wo ist sie?“ Vor lauter Scham vermochte ich nicht zu sagen: „‚Sie‘ bin ich, müder Wanderer, ‚sie‘ bin ich.“ Es ist eine Aprilnacht. Die Lampe brennt in meiner Kammer. Von Süden schleicht leise die Brise herein. Der lärmende Papagei schläft in seinem Käfig. Mein Mieder ist von der Farbe der Pfauenkehle, und mein Mantel ist grün wie junges Gras. Ich sitze auf dem Boden am Fenster und spähe hinaus in die verlassene Straße. Durch die dunkle Nacht summe ich in einem fort: „‚Sie‘ bin ich, verzweifelnder Wanderer, ‚sie‘ bin ich.“
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Rabindranath Tagor. Der Gärtner. Einzig autorisierte deutsche Ausgabe. Nach der von Rabindranath Tagore selbst veranstalteten englischen Ausgabe ins Deutsche übertragen von Hans Effenberger, München, Kurt Wolff Verlag, 1921, pages 15-16. Note: this is a prose text. Line breaks have been added to make it line up with the English.
Text Authorship:
- by Jan Śliwiński (1884 - 1950), as Hans Effenberger, no title, appears in Rabindranath Tagore. Der Gärtner, no. 8 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in The Gardener, no. 8
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941) [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):
- by Willem de Haan (1849 - 1930), "Als die Lampe an meinem Bette ausging", 1922 [ soprano and piano ], from Fünf Lieder aus "Der Gärtner" , no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-11-29
Line count: 30
Word count: 215