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Mike Rotella (4/24/2008 12:12:00 AM)
In the line referencing the sister's shadow ('Es schwankt der Schwester Schatten durch den schweigenden Hain') , it is noteworthy that the word schweigenden (translated 'still') is a present participle for the verb 'to silence.' Thus, the sister's shadow is swaying through a 'silenting' grove or a grove that is being quiet. Also, notice how the line reads in the original German with 5 'sh' sounds (schwankt, Schwester, Schatten, durch, schweigenden') . The alliteration creates a sound of someone moving through brush. Also, the 'sh' sound universally means 'be quiet.' Finally, 'mondne Kühle, ' the chill of the moon (or lunar coolness) creates a cold feeling in contrast to 'vergoßne Blut, ' warm, freshly spilled blood. Finally, note the fact that the last line references 'Die ungeborenen Enkel, ' the unborn grandchildren, not children, possibly in reference to the biblical quote 'For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me' (Exodus 20: 5) . |
Ron Fletcher (1/1/2006 8:38:00 PM)
'An Anthology of German Poetry from Holderln to Rilke in English Translation'
edited by Angel Flores, Anchor Books, NY,1960, provides a variant translation
by Kate Flores. She captures the German sense by correctly using the definite
article for 'sister, ' the reference being to 'der Schwester, ' the sister's shadow,
the moon. Kate Flores translation of the last two lines struck my heart as a
descriptive commentary on young men fighting old men's battle plans:
'The searing flame of the spirit is fed by a mighty sorrow today,
The grandchildren not to be born.' I have some skill in German that has rusted
a little in the years. |
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Georg Trakl
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