Der scheidende Sommer
Das gelbe Laub erzittert,
Es fallen die Blätter herab;
Ach, alles was hold und lieblich,
Verwelkt und sinkt ins Grab.
Die Gipfel des Waldes umflimmert
Ein schmerzlicher Sonnenschein;
Das mögen die letzten Küsse
des scheidenden Sommers sein.
Mir ist, als müßt ich weinen
Aus tiefstem Herzensgrund;
Dies Bild erinnert mich wieder
An unsere Abschiedsstund'.
Ich mußte von dir scheiden,
Und wußte, du stürbest bald;
Ich war der scheidende Sommer,
Du warst der sterbende Wald.
Heinrich Heine, 1797 - 1856
Farewell
English Translation © Richard Stokes
The yellow leaves are trembling,
The leaves are fluttering down,
Ah, all that’s fair and lovely
Must wither into the grave.
A painful sunbeam glimmers
Round the treetops in the forest;
That could be the final kiss
Of departing summer.
I feel as if I ought to weep
From the depths of my heart;
This scene again reminds me
Of when we said goodbye.
I had to take my leave of you,
And knew that you’d soon die;
I was the parting summer,
You were the dying forest.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
English Translation © Richard Stokes
The yellow leaves are trembling,
The leaves are fluttering down,
Ah, all that’s fair and lovely
Must wither into the grave.
A painful sunbeam glimmers
Round the treetops in the forest;
That could be the final kiss
Of departing summer.
I feel as if I ought to weep
From the depths of my heart;
This scene again reminds me
Of when we said goodbye.
I had to take my leave of you,
And knew that you’d soon die;
I was the parting summer,
You were the dying forest.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
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