LL-L 'Poetry' 2006.12.07 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L * 07 December 2006 * Volume 03
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Poetry

Folks,

The G-Mail account set-up seems to be working. Yippee!

I translated another one of Klaus Groth's Low Saxon poems, and you will find
it below as well as in expanded form at my dedicated site:
http://www.lowlands-l.net/groth/

It is a seasonal poem, and it deals with death as well, which isn't all that
inappropriate given that today is Pearl Harbor Day and someone I know just
had the plug pulled after days in a coma following a massive heart attack.

Going by access statistics at this site, Groth's poems (and perhaps this
sort of folksy 19th-century poetry in general) are pretty popular even among
computer users, perhaps in part because his poems are here presented with
German glossaries and English translations, which may account for "hits"
coming from all over the world.

The address of this particular poem:
http://www.lowlands-l.net/groth/snee2.htm

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

***

Groth's spelling:

* Dat Dörp in Snee*

Still as ünnern warme Dek
liggt dat Dörp in witten Snee,
mank de Ellern slöppt de Bek,
ünnert Is de blanke See.

Wicheln stat in witte Haar,
spegelt slapri all de Köpp,
all is ruhi, kold un klar
as de Dod, de ewi slöppt.

Wit, so wit de Ogen reckt,
nich en Leben, nich en Lut;
blau na'n blauen Heben treckt
sach de Rok nan Snee herut.

Ik much slapen, as de Bom,
sünner Weh un sünner Lust;
doch dar treckt mi as in Drom
still de Rok to Hus.

***

Regularized German-based spelling:

*Dat Dörp ** in'n Snee

* Still as ünner'n warme Däk
liggt dat Dörp in'n witten Snee.
Mang de Ellern slöppt de Bääk,
ünner't Ies de blanke See.

Wicheln staht in witte Haar,
spegelt slaapri al de Köpp.
All is ruhi, kold un klaar
as de Dood, de ewi slöppt.

Wied, so wied de Ogen reckt,
nich een Läben, nich een Luud.
Blau na'n blauen Häben treckt
sach de Rook na'n Snee heruut.

Ik much slapen, as de Boom,
sünner Weh un sünner Lust.
Doch daar treckt mi as in  'n Droom
still de Rook to Huus'.

***

English translation R. F. Hahn (c)2006*

**Village under Snow
*
As if warmly nestled in rest and ease,
Lies the village all covered with snow.
The rivulet sleeps among alder-trees,
Under ice the ocean's glow.

Willows stand there, all white their hair,
Sleepy heads mirrored on ice-crusted deep.
All is quiet and cold under austere glare
Like death, that endless sleep.

Far, as far as you can see with bare eyes,
There's no life, not a single sound.
Only one blue column of smoke does rise,
Gently floating blue-heaven-bound.

I yearn to sleep, yearn to sleep like the tree
Without sorrow, without delight.
But the column of smoke ... It beckons me
Back home, as in a dream walk at night.
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