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> Allerseelen, All Souls' Day
stoirmeil 
Posted: 02-Nov-2008, 01:03 PM
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This is a translation I've made of a poem written in German by Hermann von Gilm, "Allerseelen" or All Souls' Day, which happens to be today -- the custom is to decorate graves with the bright, deeply-colored fall flowers. I know the poem because I sang the song setting by Richard Strauss years ago, when I was in my 20s. Strauss, as it happens,also wrote it when he was in his 20s. smile.gif It was in my mind today, and I realized that as a young person I never really understood the depth of the poem, which is talking about love between older people in their autumn years who may still experience a great flaming up of passion, even while staring the inevitable winter in the face.

I haven't tried to render it in verse form -- just wanted to share the thoughts.


All Souls' Day

Place the fragrant mignonettes on the table -- the last red asters, bring them here too,
and let's speak again of love, as we did once in May.

Give me your hand, that I may press it in secret -- and if anyone sees, it's all the same to me.
Give me just one of your sweet glances, as you did once in May . . .

Every grave is blooming and fragrant today. One day in the year even the dead are free --
Come to my heart, that I may have you again, as I did once in May.


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gaberlunzie 
Posted: 14-Nov-2008, 11:49 AM
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stoirmeil,
you did a very good job with your translation.

Yes, it appears to me that we simply need to have gone through a few experiences in life that run deeply in our souls to be able to understand in depth, to understand the beauty of this poem.

I haven't thought of it for many years. Thank you for this post.


--------------------
"Now here's my secret", said the fox, "it is very simple. It is only with ones heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

("The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery)


"The soul would have no rainbow, if the eye had no tears."
(Native American Proverb)
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