Spring

Mr. Cutter was in the whoods
and she the farmer was in the woods
and he saw how her wagon rolled
where the heart in the heart wood struck.
tik targ where also a gnarl was to
                    be heard
and held her wholly wonderful
                    in spring.
o’er the whole year.

Translated by Oya Ataman and Gary Sullivan.

* * *

Frühling

Der Herr Fäller war im Wahld
und sie der Bauer war im Wald
und sah er wie im Wagen rollte
wo das Herz im Herzen Holz schlug.
tik targ wo auch ein Knorr zu
                    hören war
und hielt sie ganz wunderbar
                    ihm Frühling.
über’s ganze Jahr.

* * *

Notes

There is no German word "Wahld"; there is "Wald" ("woods") and "Wahl" ("choice" or "election"). Oya and I decided on "whoods," which alludes to both "woods" and "who," the latter having an obvious relationship with "choice" or "election."