Haschhof.
Ich war am Haschhof lange Zeit,
und stehts zur Arbeit stehts be-
reit.
Mit allen meinen Kameraden,
mußte ich mich bei der Arbeit plagen.
Der Herr Pfleger war von vornherein—,
ein guter Bub so sollt es sein.
Manch Arbeit fiel mir besonders schwer,
das Holzschneiden gefiel mir sehr.
um halbelf Uhr war die Arbeit aus;
dann ginging wir alle wieder nach-
haus.
[This poem has not yet been translated.]
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Green Snake.
The green snake creeps thither.
And is by the people clearly ad-
mired
It beats the disgusting snake-
sign
until his white hair turns
gray.
The mother beckons and he o-
Beys
And continues until he’s shooed away.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Grüne Schlange.
Die grüne Schlange kriecht dahin.
Und wird vom Menschen klar be-
staunt
Es trifft den widerlichen Schlangen-
sinn.
bis ihm sein weißes Haar er-
graut.
Die Mutter winkt und er ge-
horcht
Und geht dahin bis er verscheucht.
The green snake creeps thither.
And is by the people clearly ad-
mired
It beats the disgusting snake-
sign
until his white hair turns
gray.
The mother beckons and he o-
Beys
And continues until he’s shooed away.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Grüne Schlange.
Die grüne Schlange kriecht dahin.
Und wird vom Menschen klar be-
staunt
Es trifft den widerlichen Schlangen-
sinn.
bis ihm sein weißes Haar er-
graut.
Die Mutter winkt und er ge-
horcht
Und geht dahin bis er verscheucht.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Alfred.
This Alfred sits in a scow,
and sings a little song he knows.
Then he rows the sea up high,
and watches out for his sweetie-pie.
Suddenly a huge storm came along,
and smacked the Fredi short and long.
Then he goes quickly home then
And already it began to rain.
Sewage, which makes me snort,
and the Fredi was completely wet.
In fear and fright,
it went right to bed.
And at night, o’ fright, one barely believes it,
has a bad dream.
One can call it what one will
It always pleases Mr. Head Clinician Navratil.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Alfred.
Der Alfred sitzt in einem Kahn,
und singt sich ein Liedl, das er kann.
Dann fährt er hoch den See hinauf,
und paßt auf sein Liebchen auf.
Plötzlich kam ein großer Sturm daher,
und packte den Fredi hin und her.
Dann fährt er schnell nach Hause dann
Und schon fing es zu regnen an.
Juche, das machte mir Spaß,
und der Fredi war ganz naß.
Vor Angst und Schreck,
ging er gleich zu Bett.
Und Nachts, o’ Schreck, man glaubt es kaum,
hat er einen bösen Traum.
Man kann es nehmen wie man will
Es freut sich immer der Herr Primar Navratil.
This Alfred sits in a scow,
and sings a little song he knows.
Then he rows the sea up high,
and watches out for his sweetie-pie.
Suddenly a huge storm came along,
and smacked the Fredi short and long.
Then he goes quickly home then
And already it began to rain.
Sewage, which makes me snort,
and the Fredi was completely wet.
In fear and fright,
it went right to bed.
And at night, o’ fright, one barely believes it,
has a bad dream.
One can call it what one will
It always pleases Mr. Head Clinician Navratil.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Alfred.
Der Alfred sitzt in einem Kahn,
und singt sich ein Liedl, das er kann.
Dann fährt er hoch den See hinauf,
und paßt auf sein Liebchen auf.
Plötzlich kam ein großer Sturm daher,
und packte den Fredi hin und her.
Dann fährt er schnell nach Hause dann
Und schon fing es zu regnen an.
Juche, das machte mir Spaß,
und der Fredi war ganz naß.
Vor Angst und Schreck,
ging er gleich zu Bett.
Und Nachts, o’ Schreck, man glaubt es kaum,
hat er einen bösen Traum.
Man kann es nehmen wie man will
Es freut sich immer der Herr Primar Navratil.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Schism.
The schism is work of the physicians.
This is brought on the denominator
the schism is an operation.
And the kids already know it.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Gespaltenheit.
Die Gespaltenheit ist Arbeit der Ärzte.
Diese wird auf den Nenner gebracht
die Gespaltenheit ist eine Operation.
Und die Kinder wissen es schon.
The schism is work of the physicians.
This is brought on the denominator
the schism is an operation.
And the kids already know it.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Gespaltenheit.
Die Gespaltenheit ist Arbeit der Ärzte.
Diese wird auf den Nenner gebracht
die Gespaltenheit ist eine Operation.
Und die Kinder wissen es schon.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Security.
Half frostbitten, half embarrassed, he lies
in the eternal ice.
A boy lies in ice-cold night.
The clock goes quiet, the time complies.
Until that the bedside cracks.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Geborgenheit.
Halb erfroren, halb befangen, liegt
er im ewigen Eis.
Ein Junge liegt in eiskalter Nacht.
Die Uhr geht still, die Zeit geht leis.
Bis daß die Bettkante kracht.
Half frostbitten, half embarrassed, he lies
in the eternal ice.
A boy lies in ice-cold night.
The clock goes quiet, the time complies.
Until that the bedside cracks.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Geborgenheit.
Halb erfroren, halb befangen, liegt
er im ewigen Eis.
Ein Junge liegt in eiskalter Nacht.
Die Uhr geht still, die Zeit geht leis.
Bis daß die Bettkante kracht.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Maternal
Love of nature is maternal.
Nature is love of the mother.
Thou shalt be self so says nature
Fire is the frying pan of nature.
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Ekkehard Knörer.
* * *
Das Mütterliche
Die Liebe zur Natur ist das Mütterliche.
Die Natur ist die Liebe zur Mutter.
Du sollst selber sein so sagt die Natur
Der Regen ist die Traufe zur Natur.
* * *
Notes
I'm reasonably certain that "Du sollst selber sein" is not a normal thing to say in German; one would maybe say it "Du sollst dich selber sein." So "Thou shalt be self" rather than the expected "Thou shalt be thyself."
UPDATE: Based on Ekkehard's comment about the German idiom "vom Regen in die Traufe," I've rewritten the last line.
Love of nature is maternal.
Nature is love of the mother.
Thou shalt be self so says nature
Fire is the frying pan of nature.
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Ekkehard Knörer.
* * *
Das Mütterliche
Die Liebe zur Natur ist das Mütterliche.
Die Natur ist die Liebe zur Mutter.
Du sollst selber sein so sagt die Natur
Der Regen ist die Traufe zur Natur.
* * *
Notes
I'm reasonably certain that "Du sollst selber sein" is not a normal thing to say in German; one would maybe say it "Du sollst dich selber sein." So "Thou shalt be self" rather than the expected "Thou shalt be thyself."
UPDATE: Based on Ekkehard's comment about the German idiom "vom Regen in die Traufe," I've rewritten the last line.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Present.
The present's a quiet orphan,
we just want to be having fun.
I have gone now into the woods,
and will return soon without the goods.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Gegenwart.
Die Gegenwart ist still allein,
wir wollen doch nur frölich sein.
Ich bin gegangen in den Wald,
und kehre zurücke allzubald.
* * *
Notes
I have a couple of versions of this poem that I translated, and one version that I translated with Oya Ataman. My first solo attempt was very loose:
The Present.
The present is aligned tho still alien
to anyone already content.
I'm going further into my antlers
and will return, baldly trumped.
That is still among my favorites, and it pains me to have ultimately decided against it. But, let's face it, this is Ernst Herbeck, not Joseph Ceravalo, upon which that translation above is obviously modeled.
Oya Ataman and I did an accurate version later:
The Present.
The present is quiet alone,
we just want to have fun
I am going into the woods,
and turn back all too soon.
and I was fully prepared to keep it, but one thing Oya mentioned when we were doing that version was that the original had the quality of a children's rhyme, which this version doesn't. So, last night I decided I'd do one up that kept the same syllable count as the original, and which maybe gets more of that sing-songy-ness that Oya mentioned.
What do you think? Which should ultimately prevail?
[] Gary version 1 ("The present is aligned ...")
[] Oya and Gary version ("The present is quiet alone")
[] Gary version 2 ("The present's a quiet orphan")
Vote early, vote often.
UPDATE: Michael Kelleher voted two or three times yesterday (see comments) for version 2, the one I did with Oya. Kasey Mohammad sent in a version of his own, which has a Herbecky sound to it, actually (more so than my two solo versions, I think).
Looking at all four versions (including Kasey's), I think Michael is ultimately right. The other three, which each have their own strengths, feel more or less slightly off when I read the poem in the larger context of the other poems. So, at least for the moment, I'm going to go with the collaborative translation.
The present's a quiet orphan,
we just want to be having fun.
I have gone now into the woods,
and will return soon without the goods.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Gegenwart.
Die Gegenwart ist still allein,
wir wollen doch nur frölich sein.
Ich bin gegangen in den Wald,
und kehre zurücke allzubald.
* * *
Notes
I have a couple of versions of this poem that I translated, and one version that I translated with Oya Ataman. My first solo attempt was very loose:
The Present.
The present is aligned tho still alien
to anyone already content.
I'm going further into my antlers
and will return, baldly trumped.
That is still among my favorites, and it pains me to have ultimately decided against it. But, let's face it, this is Ernst Herbeck, not Joseph Ceravalo, upon which that translation above is obviously modeled.
Oya Ataman and I did an accurate version later:
The Present.
The present is quiet alone,
we just want to have fun
I am going into the woods,
and turn back all too soon.
and I was fully prepared to keep it, but one thing Oya mentioned when we were doing that version was that the original had the quality of a children's rhyme, which this version doesn't. So, last night I decided I'd do one up that kept the same syllable count as the original, and which maybe gets more of that sing-songy-ness that Oya mentioned.
What do you think? Which should ultimately prevail?
[] Gary version 1 ("The present is aligned ...")
[] Oya and Gary version ("The present is quiet alone")
[] Gary version 2 ("The present's a quiet orphan")
Vote early, vote often.
UPDATE: Michael Kelleher voted two or three times yesterday (see comments) for version 2, the one I did with Oya. Kasey Mohammad sent in a version of his own, which has a Herbecky sound to it, actually (more so than my two solo versions, I think).
Looking at all four versions (including Kasey's), I think Michael is ultimately right. The other three, which each have their own strengths, feel more or less slightly off when I read the poem in the larger context of the other poems. So, at least for the moment, I'm going to go with the collaborative translation.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Future.
The future is a signpost
the future must know better
without future there’s unfortunately no life
In the future death lies at our feet
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Oya Ataman.
* * *
Die Zukunft.
Die Zukunft ist ein Wegweiser
die Zukunft muss das besser wisen.
ohne Zukunft gibt es leider kein Leben.
In der Zukunft liegt der Tod uns zu Füssen.
* * *
Notes
I have a lot of abandoned alternatives for the first two lines. Here are some of them:
The future is an arrow
the future's point of view is narrow
The future is a pathfinder
to get to know the future better
The future is a lovely thing
that doesn't tell you anything
The future is that which points the way
the future must always have its say
The future points down the street
the future must know better
Obviously, in that last one, the idea is to rhyme "street" with the "feet" of the last line.
I almost went with the penultimate alt couplet, but maybe felt it was too slick or something.
Oya suggested that the second line be rendered in such a way as to emphasize the idea that the future is a kind of "smarty pants." Given that, I also tried to use "the future must know it all" or "the future is a know-it-all," but backed off and went with what's there now, Oya and my first draft.
The future is a signpost
the future must know better
without future there’s unfortunately no life
In the future death lies at our feet
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Oya Ataman.
* * *
Die Zukunft.
Die Zukunft ist ein Wegweiser
die Zukunft muss das besser wisen.
ohne Zukunft gibt es leider kein Leben.
In der Zukunft liegt der Tod uns zu Füssen.
* * *
Notes
I have a lot of abandoned alternatives for the first two lines. Here are some of them:
The future is an arrow
the future's point of view is narrow
The future is a pathfinder
to get to know the future better
The future is a lovely thing
that doesn't tell you anything
The future is that which points the way
the future must always have its say
The future points down the street
the future must know better
Obviously, in that last one, the idea is to rhyme "street" with the "feet" of the last line.
I almost went with the penultimate alt couplet, but maybe felt it was too slick or something.
Oya suggested that the second line be rendered in such a way as to emphasize the idea that the future is a kind of "smarty pants." Given that, I also tried to use "the future must know it all" or "the future is a know-it-all," but backed off and went with what's there now, Oya and my first draft.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Father.
The father must lead the children before
they go to school.
the father is the breadwinner and the
head of the family.
Being father is especially hard.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Vater.
Der Vater muß die Kinder, ehe sie zur
Schule gehen, führen.
der Vater ist der Verdiener und das
Haupt der Familie.
Vater sein, ist besonders schwer.
The father must lead the children before
they go to school.
the father is the breadwinner and the
head of the family.
Being father is especially hard.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Vater.
Der Vater muß die Kinder, ehe sie zur
Schule gehen, führen.
der Vater ist der Verdiener und das
Haupt der Familie.
Vater sein, ist besonders schwer.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Park
The park is for the old people
there.
In the park, there grow beautiful
mums.—
There storm the children with hurrah.
The park belongs also to the dumb.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Park
Der Park ist für die alten
Leute da.
Im Park, da wachsen schöne
Blumen.—
Da stürmen die Kinder mit Hurra.
Der Park gehört auch für die Dummen.
The park is for the old people
there.
In the park, there grow beautiful
mums.—
There storm the children with hurrah.
The park belongs also to the dumb.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Park
Der Park ist für die alten
Leute da.
Im Park, da wachsen schöne
Blumen.—
Da stürmen die Kinder mit Hurra.
Der Park gehört auch für die Dummen.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Death.
Death came once creepy-crawling.
and robbed the dead of their life.
so death is as once passed on.
and gives the dead once again
life.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Tod.
Der Tod kam einst einhergeschlichen.
und raubte den Toten das Leben.
so ist der Tod wie einst verblichen.
und schenkte den Toten wieder
das Leben.
Death came once creepy-crawling.
and robbed the dead of their life.
so death is as once passed on.
and gives the dead once again
life.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Tod.
Der Tod kam einst einhergeschlichen.
und raubte den Toten das Leben.
so ist der Tod wie einst verblichen.
und schenkte den Toten wieder
das Leben.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Ocean.
The ocean is deep the lake is wide.
The sailors’ deepest dream,
and is the ocean also yet so wide
the sailor barely has a gleam.
The ocean connection is the ship.
The countries of the Atlantic Coast
Europe and America.
The Pacific.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Das Meer.
Das Meer ist tief die See ist weit.
Der Matrosen tiefster Traum,
und ist das Meer auch noch so weit
der Matrose weiß es kaum.
Des Meeres Verbindung ist das Schiff.
Der Länder der Atlantikküste
Europa und Amerikas.
Der Pazifik.
The ocean is deep the lake is wide.
The sailors’ deepest dream,
and is the ocean also yet so wide
the sailor barely has a gleam.
The ocean connection is the ship.
The countries of the Atlantic Coast
Europe and America.
The Pacific.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Das Meer.
Das Meer ist tief die See ist weit.
Der Matrosen tiefster Traum,
und ist das Meer auch noch so weit
der Matrose weiß es kaum.
Des Meeres Verbindung ist das Schiff.
Der Länder der Atlantikküste
Europa und Amerikas.
Der Pazifik.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The School.
The boys’ and girls’ school in port.
is a house of honor in the resort.
the school is the student’s shrine
and they learn from the good old
swine
The students write from the star.
they speak and count from afar.
The school, the rooftop and also the
stone.
To use everything for each other alone.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Schule.
Die Knaben- und Mädchenschule in Port.
ist ein hohes Haus im Ort.
die Schule der Schüler allein
und sie lernen vom guten alten
Schwein.
Die Schüler sie schreiben vom Stern.
sie redden und rechnen in der Fern.
Die Schule, das Dach und auch den
Stein.
Zu gebrauchen das alles für sich allein.
The boys’ and girls’ school in port.
is a house of honor in the resort.
the school is the student’s shrine
and they learn from the good old
swine
The students write from the star.
they speak and count from afar.
The school, the rooftop and also the
stone.
To use everything for each other alone.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Schule.
Die Knaben- und Mädchenschule in Port.
ist ein hohes Haus im Ort.
die Schule der Schüler allein
und sie lernen vom guten alten
Schwein.
Die Schüler sie schreiben vom Stern.
sie redden und rechnen in der Fern.
Die Schule, das Dach und auch den
Stein.
Zu gebrauchen das alles für sich allein.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Poison Act
The black beetle will effect.
by blood and by wine.
The barley, the oats affect there
all alone.
The poison and the aster remain standing
alone.
* * *
Das Giftgesetz
Der schwarze Käfer wird Wirkung.
bei Blut und bei Wein.
Die Gerste, der Hafer da wirkt
ganz allein.
Das Gift und die Aster bleibt stehen
allein.
* * *
Notes
I must admit that I'm completely baffled by this poem. It's either inscrutable, or I've done a horrifically bad job of translating it.
The black beetle will effect.
by blood and by wine.
The barley, the oats affect there
all alone.
The poison and the aster remain standing
alone.
* * *
Das Giftgesetz
Der schwarze Käfer wird Wirkung.
bei Blut und bei Wein.
Die Gerste, der Hafer da wirkt
ganz allein.
Das Gift und die Aster bleibt stehen
allein.
* * *
Notes
I must admit that I'm completely baffled by this poem. It's either inscrutable, or I've done a horrifically bad job of translating it.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Booklet
The calendar marks off the day
the booklet and the writer.
The unsuspecting reader gave
the booklet and the pointer.
The booklet strikes it off in a flash
and reads the sentences in that space.
The booklet strikes the eyes shut
and yet gave him all the places.
* * *
Das Büchlein
Der Kalender zeichnet ab den Tag,
das Büchlein und den Schreiber.
Der ahnungslose Leser gab,
das Büchlein und den Zeiger.
Das Büchlein schlägt er auf im nu,
und liest hieraus die Sätze.
Das Büchlein schlägt die Augen zu,
und gab ihm noch die Plätze.
* * *
Notes
I've taken slight liberties in the second stanza in order to maintain something of the rhyming going on in the original.
Herbeck wrote this poem and the poem just beneath it ("The Brooklet") on the same day, September 5, 1967.
The calendar marks off the day
the booklet and the writer.
The unsuspecting reader gave
the booklet and the pointer.
The booklet strikes it off in a flash
and reads the sentences in that space.
The booklet strikes the eyes shut
and yet gave him all the places.
* * *
Das Büchlein
Der Kalender zeichnet ab den Tag,
das Büchlein und den Schreiber.
Der ahnungslose Leser gab,
das Büchlein und den Zeiger.
Das Büchlein schlägt er auf im nu,
und liest hieraus die Sätze.
Das Büchlein schlägt die Augen zu,
und gab ihm noch die Plätze.
* * *
Notes
I've taken slight liberties in the second stanza in order to maintain something of the rhyming going on in the original.
Herbeck wrote this poem and the poem just beneath it ("The Brooklet") on the same day, September 5, 1967.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Brooklet.
The brooklet flows downward,
It flows always downhill.
The notches have teeth and
and the shoes a sepulcher.
The brooklet has humor,
they cultivate hares, does and stags,
The brook is it swollen,
thereby quenching them of thirst.
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Ekkehard Knörer.
* * *
Das Bächlein.
Das Bächlein fließt herunter,
Es fließt immer Bergab.
Die Nuten haben Zacken und
und die Schuhe ein Grab.
Das Bächlein hat Humor,
sie üben Hasen, Reh und Hirsch,
Der Bach ist er geschwollen,
Dort löschen sie ihren Durst.
* * *
Notes
The alert reader will note that I have translated "Das Bächlein" here as "Brooklet," but in the poem two posts beneath this one as "Streamlet." Extensive notes explain the reason for the latter. The reason for "Brooklet" will be clear tomorrow. (E.g., in the poem just above this.)
UPDATE: Not long after I posted this poem, Ekkehard Knörer wrote in to alert me to two places where I'd normalized Herbeck's writing--and made a very convincing case as to why it is a mistake to do that here:
The brooklet flows downward,
It flows always downhill.
The notches have teeth and
and the shoes a sepulcher.
The brooklet has humor,
they cultivate hares, does and stags,
The brook is it swollen,
thereby quenching them of thirst.
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Ekkehard Knörer.
* * *
Das Bächlein.
Das Bächlein fließt herunter,
Es fließt immer Bergab.
Die Nuten haben Zacken und
und die Schuhe ein Grab.
Das Bächlein hat Humor,
sie üben Hasen, Reh und Hirsch,
Der Bach ist er geschwollen,
Dort löschen sie ihren Durst.
* * *
Notes
The alert reader will note that I have translated "Das Bächlein" here as "Brooklet," but in the poem two posts beneath this one as "Streamlet." Extensive notes explain the reason for the latter. The reason for "Brooklet" will be clear tomorrow. (E.g., in the poem just above this.)
UPDATE: Not long after I posted this poem, Ekkehard Knörer wrote in to alert me to two places where I'd normalized Herbeck's writing--and made a very convincing case as to why it is a mistake to do that here:
Saturday, January 10, 2009
THE WELL-SPRING
A well-spring is in the woods.
it flows ice-cold tributes.
A well-spring is a mountain of air-hate.
The mountain airfro is completely irate.
The gamekeeper drinks from it in the castle.
And will triumph in the hassle.
The hunter shoots after the boar.
And hauls him up to the third floor.
* * *
DIE QUELLE
Eine Quelle ist im Wald.
sie fließt eiskalt erhalt.
Eine Quelle, ist ein Berg von Lufthass.
Der Berg herluft sich selbst ganz blaß.
Der Heger trinkt von ihr im Schloss.
und wird gesiegt im Schoss.
Der Jäger schießt hernach den Bock.
Und tragt ihn in den 3. Stock.
* * *
Notes
I love the dopey rhymes in this one, and by god, that's what I worked to retain in my less than accurate rendering.
Sue me.
A well-spring is in the woods.
it flows ice-cold tributes.
A well-spring is a mountain of air-hate.
The mountain airfro is completely irate.
The gamekeeper drinks from it in the castle.
And will triumph in the hassle.
The hunter shoots after the boar.
And hauls him up to the third floor.
* * *
DIE QUELLE
Eine Quelle ist im Wald.
sie fließt eiskalt erhalt.
Eine Quelle, ist ein Berg von Lufthass.
Der Berg herluft sich selbst ganz blaß.
Der Heger trinkt von ihr im Schloss.
und wird gesiegt im Schoss.
Der Jäger schießt hernach den Bock.
Und tragt ihn in den 3. Stock.
* * *
Notes
I love the dopey rhymes in this one, and by god, that's what I worked to retain in my less than accurate rendering.
Sue me.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Streamlet.
The streamlet flows in the lively
ground,
off into the wide sea.
The little fish poot lively too
And trigger the pike too. (FRO)
It gorges on the little fish in the
belly.
And the streamlet gorges on empty.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Das Bächlein.
Das Bächlein fließt im muntern
Grund,
hinaus aufs weite Meer.
Die Fischlein pupsen munter zu
und zu allererst der Hecht. (HER)
Er frießt das Fischlein in den
Bauch.
und frießt das Bächlein leer.
* * *
Notes
I switched back and forth between "brooklet" and "streamlet," but have finally settled on "streamlet," for the sole reason that it is the closest of the two to "stomach."
Why?
"Das Bächlein" = the rill, rivulet, streamlet, brooklet
"Das Bäuchlein" = the tummy
Add to that the switching Herbeck does between:
fließt (flows)
and
frießt (feeds on)
So there's a stomach/streamlet toggling going on in this poem, which I wanted to at least hint at. Streamlet itself doesn't cut it, of course, but I've also switched my initial translation of frießt from "feeds on" to "gorges on," given the double-meaning of "gorge" and the relevance of its second meaning to the present poem. I also sort of messed with the syntax of the last line in a vain attempt to "foreground" this.
Will doubtless be pecking at this one for a while.
The streamlet flows in the lively
ground,
off into the wide sea.
The little fish poot lively too
And trigger the pike too. (FRO)
It gorges on the little fish in the
belly.
And the streamlet gorges on empty.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Das Bächlein.
Das Bächlein fließt im muntern
Grund,
hinaus aufs weite Meer.
Die Fischlein pupsen munter zu
und zu allererst der Hecht. (HER)
Er frießt das Fischlein in den
Bauch.
und frießt das Bächlein leer.
* * *
Notes
I switched back and forth between "brooklet" and "streamlet," but have finally settled on "streamlet," for the sole reason that it is the closest of the two to "stomach."
Why?
"Das Bächlein" = the rill, rivulet, streamlet, brooklet
"Das Bäuchlein" = the tummy
Add to that the switching Herbeck does between:
fließt (flows)
and
frießt (feeds on)
So there's a stomach/streamlet toggling going on in this poem, which I wanted to at least hint at. Streamlet itself doesn't cut it, of course, but I've also switched my initial translation of frießt from "feeds on" to "gorges on," given the double-meaning of "gorge" and the relevance of its second meaning to the present poem. I also sort of messed with the syntax of the last line in a vain attempt to "foreground" this.
Will doubtless be pecking at this one for a while.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
[untitled]
The lilac stands in the garden.
so thick and tall outside.
the mother sees the flowers flower.
and into the time inside.
there it was done with whistles and bells.
the world looked different out.
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Oya Ataman.
* * *
Der Flieder steht im Garten.
so dicht und hoch hinaus.
die Mutter sieht die Blumen blühn.
und in die Zeit hinein.
da war es aus mit drum und dran.
die Welt sah anders aus.
* * *
Notes
When I showed Oya my initial attempt at this:
The lilac stands in the garden.
so thick and tall outside.
the mother sees the flowers flower.
and into the time inside.
there it was with its down and around.
the world looks different now.
... Oya suggested a number of changes. For instance, I had not then known that "mit [alles] drum und dran" was a figure of speech, much like our own "with all the bells and whistles. " It was hard to let go of that first draft, but I think we've got the present version up to some level of snuff.
The lilac stands in the garden.
so thick and tall outside.
the mother sees the flowers flower.
and into the time inside.
there it was done with whistles and bells.
the world looked different out.
Translated by Gary Sullivan and Oya Ataman.
* * *
Der Flieder steht im Garten.
so dicht und hoch hinaus.
die Mutter sieht die Blumen blühn.
und in die Zeit hinein.
da war es aus mit drum und dran.
die Welt sah anders aus.
* * *
Notes
When I showed Oya my initial attempt at this:
The lilac stands in the garden.
so thick and tall outside.
the mother sees the flowers flower.
and into the time inside.
there it was with its down and around.
the world looks different now.
... Oya suggested a number of changes. For instance, I had not then known that "mit [alles] drum und dran" was a figure of speech, much like our own "with all the bells and whistles. " It was hard to let go of that first draft, but I think we've got the present version up to some level of snuff.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Lady.
The lady doesn’t eat.
And so she goes for a stroll.
A lady makes droll jokes.
A lady looks like a lady-
bug.
A lady flits like a pheasant.
A lady goes around alone.
A lady talks a lot.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Dame.
Die Dame ißt nicht.
Und deshalb geht sie spazieren.
Eine Dame macht harte Späße.
Eine Dame sieht wie ein Marienkäfer
aus.
Eine Dame huscht wie ein Fasan.
Eine Dame geht allein herum.
Eine Dame spricht viel.
The lady doesn’t eat.
And so she goes for a stroll.
A lady makes droll jokes.
A lady looks like a lady-
bug.
A lady flits like a pheasant.
A lady goes around alone.
A lady talks a lot.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Dame.
Die Dame ißt nicht.
Und deshalb geht sie spazieren.
Eine Dame macht harte Späße.
Eine Dame sieht wie ein Marienkäfer
aus.
Eine Dame huscht wie ein Fasan.
Eine Dame geht allein herum.
Eine Dame spricht viel.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Drive
With the train we drove to Vienna.
into Prater Park.
The drive was short and fast.
Vienna had been reached.
The north station.
with the express car into Prater
Amusement Park.
there we stood at the Ferris wheel.
We rode around once with —
There it has with the trumpet
blown.
And we looked at Vienna.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Ausfahrt
Mit dem Zug fuhren wir nach Wien.
in den Wr. Prater.
Die Ausfahrt war kurz und schnell.
Wien war erreicht worden.
Der Nordbahnhof.
mit dem D-Wagen in den Wiener-
Wurstelprater.
dort standen wir am Riesenrad.
Wir fuhren einmal eine Runde mit —
Da hat er mit der Trompete ge-
blasen.
Und wir sahen über Wien.
With the train we drove to Vienna.
into Prater Park.
The drive was short and fast.
Vienna had been reached.
The north station.
with the express car into Prater
Amusement Park.
there we stood at the Ferris wheel.
We rode around once with —
There it has with the trumpet
blown.
And we looked at Vienna.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Die Ausfahrt
Mit dem Zug fuhren wir nach Wien.
in den Wr. Prater.
Die Ausfahrt war kurz und schnell.
Wien war erreicht worden.
Der Nordbahnhof.
mit dem D-Wagen in den Wiener-
Wurstelprater.
dort standen wir am Riesenrad.
Wir fuhren einmal eine Runde mit —
Da hat er mit der Trompete ge-
blasen.
Und wir sahen über Wien.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
A Beautiful Landscape.
Korneuberg.
A beautiful landscape — —
must have a mountain, Kreuzenstein!
where the Nordbahn goes
and the street near Korneuburg
runs.
A beautiful city, and the Danube
flows.
Many boats float and the warm wind blows.
where the farmers go to the fields.
where the corn matures and this harvest
becomes.—
"Korneuburg"!
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Eine schöne Landschaft.
Korneuberg.
Eine schöne Landschaft— —
muss eine Burg haben, Kreuzenstein!
wo die Nordbahn geht
und die Strasse nach Korneuburg
fährt.
Eine schöne Stadt, und die Donau
fließt.
Viele Boote fahren und der Föhn weht.
wo die Bauern auf die felder ziehn.
wo das Korn reift und diese Ernte
wird.—
»Korneuburg«!
* * *
Notes
"Korn" means "grain," generally, but I translated it as "corn" so as to emphasize what's going on in the last few lines of the original. I'm not sure about the meaning of "ziehn," which I've seen used to describe the movement of both mist and a swarm of rats. I used "hover," but I suspect this is may be a stretch.
UPDATE: A comment from Ekkehard Knörer on this poem suggests that it was indeed a stretch, and I've made the appropriate adjustment.
Korneuberg.
A beautiful landscape — —
must have a mountain, Kreuzenstein!
where the Nordbahn goes
and the street near Korneuburg
runs.
A beautiful city, and the Danube
flows.
Many boats float and the warm wind blows.
where the farmers go to the fields.
where the corn matures and this harvest
becomes.—
"Korneuburg"!
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Eine schöne Landschaft.
Korneuberg.
Eine schöne Landschaft— —
muss eine Burg haben, Kreuzenstein!
wo die Nordbahn geht
und die Strasse nach Korneuburg
fährt.
Eine schöne Stadt, und die Donau
fließt.
Viele Boote fahren und der Föhn weht.
wo die Bauern auf die felder ziehn.
wo das Korn reift und diese Ernte
wird.—
»Korneuburg«!
* * *
Notes
"Korn" means "grain," generally, but I translated it as "corn" so as to emphasize what's going on in the last few lines of the original. I'm not sure about the meaning of "ziehn," which I've seen used to describe the movement of both mist and a swarm of rats. I used "hover," but I suspect this is may be a stretch.
UPDATE: A comment from Ekkehard Knörer on this poem suggests that it was indeed a stretch, and I've made the appropriate adjustment.
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist is the care of the
Patient.
The psychiatrist thanks and thinks about
the patient.
The psychiatrist thinks and protects the
words of the patient.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Psychiater.
Der Psychiater ist der Sorge des
Patienten.
Der Psychiater dankt und denkt über
den Patienten.
Der Psychiater denkt and schützt die
Worte des Patienten.
* * *
Notes
The translation of this poem in In the Realms of the Unreal renders the first line:
The psychiatrist takes care of the
the patient.
which seems overly normalized unless I'm completely confused (a definite possibility).
UPDATE: I had translated that first line as "The psychiatrist is the concern of the patient," which Ekkehard Knörer has written in to suggest might itself be more normal sounding than the German. So at his suggestion I have changed it to "is the care of ..."
The psychiatrist is the care of the
Patient.
The psychiatrist thanks and thinks about
the patient.
The psychiatrist thinks and protects the
words of the patient.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Psychiater.
Der Psychiater ist der Sorge des
Patienten.
Der Psychiater dankt und denkt über
den Patienten.
Der Psychiater denkt and schützt die
Worte des Patienten.
* * *
Notes
The translation of this poem in In the Realms of the Unreal renders the first line:
The psychiatrist takes care of the
the patient.
which seems overly normalized unless I'm completely confused (a definite possibility).
UPDATE: I had translated that first line as "The psychiatrist is the concern of the patient," which Ekkehard Knörer has written in to suggest might itself be more normal sounding than the German. So at his suggestion I have changed it to "is the care of ..."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Patient
The cat is a lamb of peace.
so thinks a poet of the time.
the indications inherent the psychiatrist
one obeys his own world,—the patient.
The doctor tightens the numbers then
the patient puts on a new soul.
Who in the new spirit of the illness
always pulls further away.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Patient
die Katze ist a Lamm des Friedens.
so denkte ein Dicher seiner Zeit.
die im inneren Zeichen eines Psychiaters
einer eigenen Welt gehorcht,—dem Patenten.
der Arzt zieht die Nummer dann
dem Patienten eine neue Seele an.
de rim neuen Geiste einer Krankheit,
immer weiterziehen soll.
* * *
Notes
Another relatively loose translation. (See poem immediately below.)
The cat is a lamb of peace.
so thinks a poet of the time.
the indications inherent the psychiatrist
one obeys his own world,—the patient.
The doctor tightens the numbers then
the patient puts on a new soul.
Who in the new spirit of the illness
always pulls further away.
Translated by Gary Sullivan.
* * *
Der Patient
die Katze ist a Lamm des Friedens.
so denkte ein Dicher seiner Zeit.
die im inneren Zeichen eines Psychiaters
einer eigenen Welt gehorcht,—dem Patenten.
der Arzt zieht die Nummer dann
dem Patienten eine neue Seele an.
de rim neuen Geiste einer Krankheit,
immer weiterziehen soll.
* * *
Notes
Another relatively loose translation. (See poem immediately below.)
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the "sie" - "they" - in "sie üben Hasen, Reh und Hirsch" does not refer to anything with grammatical plausibility (it would be "they cultivate hares, does and stags"); as this seems to be very typical for herbeck - pronouns coming out of left field - i think you should somehow retain this. it almost seems as if these pronouns in a sense actually bring forth what they do not refer to (yet). they are active and generative in a very peculiar sense, it seems
"der bach ist er geschwollen"
literally - and ungrammatically - is
"the brook is it swollen"