Poems by Johann Mayrhofer and Emanuel Geibel

Translated from the German by Michael Shindler (January 2023)


Brook in the Mountains
, George Ault, 1945

 

At Streams
(by Johann Mayrhofer)

It’s as if my life were
To this fair river bound.
Haven’t I smiled on the shore,
And haven’t I frowned?

Yes, you’re like my soul;
Sometimes green, and smoothly flowing,
And other times—when winds roll,
You’re all frothy, restless—furrowing!

So, flow on forth to a further sea,
There’s no home for you in all this.
And to somewhere mild, I’ll also flee—
On earth I can’t find bliss.

 

Um Strome

Ist mir’s doch, als sey mein Leben
An den schönen Strom gebunden.
Hab’ ich Frohes nicht am Ufer,
Und Betrübtes hier empfunden?

Ja du gleichest meiner Seele;
Manchmahl grün, und glatt gestaltet,
Und zu Zeiten—herrschen Winde—
Schäumend, unruhvoll, gefaltet!

Fließest fort zum fernen Meere,
Darfst allda nicht heimisch werden.
Mich drängt’s auch in mildre Lande—
Finde nicht das Glück auf Erden. 

 

In April
by Emanuel Geibel

You wet Spring evening,
It’s for you that I care—
The sky’s gone all dark,
Save a star here and there.

Like a yielding lover’s breath
Comes the mild breeze,
An aroma rises from the vale
Of violets among the trees.

I wish I could work up a song,
That was somehow like this evening;
But all the sounds I’ve found are wrong:
None are so dark, so mild, and yielding.

 

Im April

Du feuchter Frühlingsabend,
Wie hab’ ich dich so gern—
Der Himmel wolkenverhangen,
Nur hier und da ein Stern.

Wie leiser Liebesodem
Hauchet so lau die Luft,
Es steigt aus allen Thalen
Ein warmer Veilchenduft.

Ich möcht’ ein Lied ersinnen,
Das diesem Abend gleich;
Und kann den Klang nicht finden
So dunkel, mild und weich.

 

Table of Contents

 

Michael Shindler is a writer living in Washington, DC. His work has appeared in publications including The American Conservative, The American Spectator, National Review Online, New English Review, University Bookman, and Providence. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelShindler.

Follow NER on Twitter @NERIconoclast

image_pdfimage_print

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New English Review Press is a priceless cultural institution.
                              — Bruce Bawer

Order here or wherever books are sold.

The perfect gift for the history lover in your life. Order on Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon, Amazon UK, or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Order on Amazon or Amazon UK or wherever books are sold


Order at Amazon, Amazon UK, or wherever books are sold. 

Order at Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Available at Amazon US, Amazon UK or wherever books are sold.

Send this to a friend