ladylinda
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Post by ladylinda on Nov 7, 2020 19:47:07 GMT -5
The Outlaws
Rudyard Kipling
Through learned and laborious years They set themselves to find Fresh terrors and undreamed-of fears To heap upon mankind.
All that they drew from Heaven above Or digged from earth beneath, They laid into their treasure-trove And arsenals of death:
While, for well-weighed advantage sake, Ruler and ruled alike Built up the faith they meant to break When the fit hour should strike.
They traded with the careless earth, And good return it gave: They plotted by their neighbour's hearth The means to make him slave.
When all was ready to their hand They loosed their hidden sword, And utterly laid waste a land Their oath was pledged to guard.
Coldly they went about to raise To life and make more dread Abominations of old days, That men believed were dead.
They paid the price to reach their goal Across a world in flame; But their own hate slew their own soul Before that victory came
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ladylinda
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Post by ladylinda on Dec 11, 2020 18:25:33 GMT -5
The Blessed (English Translation) by Gertrud Kolmar Translated by Linda Marshall
I am in the darkness and alone. In front of me stands the door. When I open it, I am bathed in light. There are a father, a mother and sister, A dog, which, dumb, still barks in friendliness.
How can I lie, and how can I say That I, hidden there in darkness, have not come to harm them? I drag myself over the threshold.
Snow blossoms in my eyes. I saw him bowing to me courteously; How much that hurt me.
How could my heart find peace, When round it raced the voice of the old man? I live in coldness.
I dried my tears and went To where the man was eating with his family. It was so calm and loving a reception.
I felt the violins sounding inside me At first, so sweetly, so gently. They will never sound again, when I have finished.
Fear drenched my hands. Beneath me I could almost taste my womb. A sneer seemed to say: ‘Have you no shame? What have you done with the wedding-ring on your finger? Terrible thief, where did you hide your courage? Does the nakedness of my right hand mean so little to me?’
I felt so poor and naked. I wriggled in my chair And trembled to think what I must do.
Pity clawed at my heart and shook my body Like a tree in a winter field blown by the wind Shedding leaves.
I told myself it was time to go, Scolding my wan, faded self for my little worries. Pleased with myself again, I steeled myself for the torture.
The joy of it! Oh, how I want to be Just like an animal and be happy again! I sharpen my claws with a knife.
It is still night, and that thing called shame, I may not let it show itself. I know the train that tears through the woods.
I go out to the unfeeling rails. Weary, I am glad to go to bed, Running across two flat sticks of iron.
(German original)
Die Gesegnete:
Ich bin im Dunkel und allein.
Und neben mir lehnt doch die Tür. Wenn ich sie klinke, steh' ich ganz im Licht. Da sind ein Vater, Mutter und die Schwestern, Ein Hund, der stumm und freundlich spricht.
Wie darf ich lügen, und wie kann ich sagen, Daß ich ins Finstre hingestoßen ward? Ich hab' mich selbst aus allem fortgetragen.
Vor meinen Augen blühte Schnee. Ich sah, daß er die Rispen zu mir neigte, Zu meinen Jahren, und es tat mir weh.
Ich hatte nichts, dem Alter zu versöhnen Mein Herz, das jung und rot wie Frucht erklang, Es an die bleiche Kühle zu gewöhnen.
Da weint' ich sehr und ging Und fand den Mann an einer Wegegabel, War still und liebte und empfing.
Es sang in mir auf einer Geige So süß, so leicht, im Anbeginn. Nun singt es nicht mehr, wenn ich schweige.
Die Angst mit ihren Fleckenhänden kam, Saß bei mir nieder, meinen Leib betastend, Belud ein Grinsen: »Fühlst du keine Scham?«
»Wo blieb der Frauenring für deinen Finger ? Du fürchtest Diebe, hältst ihn brav versteckt.« Ist meine nackte Rechte denn geringer ?
So arm, so nackend wird es sich Auch meinem Schoße bald entwinden. Und wenn ich's denken muß, umkrampft es mich.
Es krallt sich ein und läßt mich zittern, Wie Sturm den Baum im Winterfeld Befreit von seinen letzten rost'gen Flittern.
So fegt es mir hinweg, was dünn und schal, Die kleine Sorge, listiges Vergnügen, Und bricht die Knospe auf der großen Qual.
Der großen Freude. O, ich will dich werfen So wie ein Tier und glücklich sein! - Ich finde Klauen, die ein Messer schärfen …
Es ist doch Nacht. Und ist ein Ding, das Schande heißt. Ich darf dich nicht gebären. Ich weiß den Schnellzug, der den Wald zerreißt.
Dem geh' ich zu an seinen blanken Gleisen Und werde müd' und leg' mich froh zu Bett Quer auf zwei flache Stäbe Eisen.
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ladylinda
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Post by ladylinda on Dec 11, 2020 18:26:24 GMT -5
In my opinion, Kolmar is the greatest German poet of the 20th century but sadly she was murdered by the Nazis in 1943 simply for BEING Jewish.
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