LL-L "Remembrance" 2008.01.26 (08) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  26 January 2008 - Volume 08
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Remembrance

Dear Lowlanders,

January 27 is Holocaust Memorial Day. So please spare a few appropriate
thoughts and remember that unfortunately genocidal activities are not yet
things of the past.

Below please find one of Waltrud Bruhn's Low Saxon poems on the subject,
followed by my translation.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

***

*AUSCHWITZ*

*Vun Waltrud Bruhn (1936‒1999)*

Wo oolt warrd Raven?
Fastknevelt in'n Boom ‒
stief sünd de Telgen vun't Ies ‒
luuthals in heeschhatte Winterklaag
schreet se
vun leidlege Tieden.
Wat möök ehr so heeschgrimmig schreen?
Is't düsse Dag, de sik wegsneert?
Sünd't de Jahren vull Bangen,
as se blots Rookwulken sehn
‒ Freed, Himmel un Eer weern verraden
un keen Verlööfd för de Vagels
to'n Nesten ‒ ?
Angstdood dat Gras.
Smachtmöhl de Maag, Klappklöter de Snavels.
   Aas-Raven
      so klaagt se:
         Arg! Arg! Arg!
            Wo oolt warrd Raven?

***

*AUSCHWITZ*

*By Waltrud Bruhn (1936‒1999)
Translated by R. F. Hahn, (c)2002*

How long do ravens live?
Claw-clinched in the tree—
the branches of ice—
loud-mouthing in hoarse-harsh winter plaint
they squawk
about gravely grievous times.
What could be making them squawk so hoarsely mad?
Is it this day that's sneaking away?
Is it the years full of fright
when all they saw were clouds of smoke
—peace, heaven and earth having been betrayed,
and no permission for the nesting
of birds—?
Dread-dead the grass.
Hunger mills their stomachs, clack-rattles their beaks.
   Darn ravens ...
      That's how they wail:
         Awe! Awe! Awe!
            How long do ravens live?
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