Gustav Jahn Poetry - New English Translations

For those faithful few on this remote Internet island, new English translations of poems in Gustav Jahn's "Neuer Frühling" have been provided by a gifted translator in Austin, Texas. There are being added to the second edition of JAHN II for future publication. But those visiting this blog will be the first to read the stanzas.

Lenz im Winter

 

Im Sommer wars –es flotz der Sonnenglanz

Ums haus auf Blüthenpracht und Saatengold –

Da welkte meine Rose hold,

Da lag mein Lieb so bleich im Todtenkranz.

Man nahm sie mir– trug sie zur kühlen Gruft –

In Blumen eingehüllt sah ich zuletzt sie ruhn:

Nur eine handvoll Erde trennt uns nun,

Und doch – wie eine teife Kluft!

 

It was in the summer—the sunshine flowed

Around the house upon the blossomed splendor and golden corn—

Then my dear rose wilted.

There lay my love so pale in the death wreath.

They took her from me—carried her to the cool tomb—

Shrouded in flowers, at last I saw her resting there:

Just a handful of earth now separates us,

And yet—what a deep chasm