To a wrinkle | As the breath of God flutters through His fields

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by Karl Kraus (1874 - 1936)

Translation © by Leonard Lehrman

An eine Falte

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Wie Gottes Athem seine Fluren fächelt,
so wird es leicht und licht
in diesem klaren Angesicht.
Es hat die Erde gern
und schwebt ihr fern
und liebt und lächelt.

Und Gottes Finger bildete den Bug
vom Ebenbilde.
Es zieht so milde
hin über alles Leid,
und es verzeiht
der edle Zug.

In dich, o unvergeßlich feine Falte,
betend versanken
meine Gedanken.
Daß diese letzte Spur
seiner Natur
mir Gott erhalte!

Text Authorship:

by Karl Kraus (1874 - 1936), "An eine Falte" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Franz Mittler (1893 - 1970), "An eine Falte" [sung text not yet checked]
by Dora Pejačević (1885 - 1923), "An eine Falte", op. 46 (1918) [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Leonard Lehrman) , "To a wrinkle", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "À une ride", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2012-03-11
Line count: 18
Word count: 70

To a wrinkle

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

As the breath of God flutters through His fields,
So in this clear countenance 
will there be lightness and light.
Pleased by the earth, 
it floats far from her, 
loves and smiles.

And the finger of God formed the prow 
in His own image.
It stretches out sorrow 
so softly over everything,
And forgives 
the noble tug.

In you, oh unforgettably fine wrinkle,
Prayerfully sank
my thoughts.
May God preserve 
this last trace 
of His nature in me!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Leonard Lehrman, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Leonard Lehrman. Contact: ljlehrman (AT) nassaulibrary (DOT) org

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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Kraus (1874 - 1936), "An eine Falte"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2013-09-01
Line count: 18
Word count: 78