Friday, February 25, 2011

Das Veilchen/The Violet

I have violets growing all around my apartment and I thought I'd share a poem by Johann W. Goethe, first in German and then in English along with some photos... enjoy!


Das Veilchen             By: Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832)


Ein Veilchen auf der Wiese stand,
gebückt in sich und unbekammt:
es war ein herzigs Veilchen

Da kam ein'junge Schäferin
mit leichten Schritt un
muntern Sinn daher,
die Wiese her un sang.

Ach! Denkt das Veilchen,
wär ich nur die schönste Blume der Natur,
ach, nur ein kleines Veilchen,
bis mich das Liebchen abgepflückt
und an dem Busen mattgedrückt,
ach nur, ach nur ein Viertel stündchen lang.

Ach, aber ach! Das Mädchen kam
un nicht in acht das Veilchen nahn,
ertrat das arme Veilchen.

Es sank un starb und freut'sich noch:
und sterb ich denn, so sterb ich doch durch sie,
auch sie, zu ihren Füßendoch.

Dar arme Veilchen!
Es war ein herzigs Veilchen
 
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The Violet
A violet in the meadow grew,

blushing quietly, quite unknown;
a pretty little violet.


A young shepherdess drew near,
with tripping foot and merry heart,
she came alone,
singing through the meadow.

If only, the violet mused, I were
the finest flower in the world,
just for a little while,
until the dear girl picked me
and pressed me to her heart 'til I died,
if only, if only for a quarter of an hour!

Alas! The girl approached
and paid no heed to the violet;
she trod it underfoot.

It sank and died, yet it rejoiced:
if I must die, at least I die through her,
through her, here, 'neath her feet.

Poor violet! 
It was a pretty violet!
 


Violets from my "garden" and flower pots!


... and none of them are being trampled on!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Look



The Look
by Sara Teasdale

Strephon kissed me in the spring,
      Robin in the fall,
But Colin only looked at me
      And never kissed at all.

Strephon's kiss was lost in jest,
      Robin's lost in play,
But the kiss in Colin's eyes
      Haunts me night and day.