Song Of The Hermit by Stefan Zweig

translated by William Ruleman (May 2014)

How strange a fate: to search, explore

The crazy maze of every road

And find it leads to this narrow door—

Yes, find I’m blessed with this bleak abode!

The silent stars, so pure and near,

Breathe on me their magic powers,

Banishing earthly joy, pain, fear

From all my mortal hours.

The sweet breath of my violin

Fills my room with serenity;

And so I turn toward evening; then

The voice of God will wake in me.

How strange a fate: to search, explore

The crazy maze of every road

And find it leads to this narrow door—

Yes, find I’m blessed with this bleak abode!

_____________________

William Ruleman's renderings of two of Zweig’s early novellas, as well as selected stories, were published in 2010 by Ariadne Press, while Ruleman’s translation of his later story “Die Frau und die Landschaft” is due to appear in the spring issue of the British journal Tears in the Fence. Aside from Zweig, he enjoys working with other poets of the German language, the results being featured most recently in The Deronda Review, AALitra Review, The Sonnet Scroll, The Recusant, The Galway Review, and Atavic Poetry. He teaches creative writing and literature at Tennessee Wesleyan College, where he is Professor of English.

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