Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Poetry Library Southbank Centre - The Poetry Library housing the Arts Council Collection at Southbank Centre

« Previous item
Contents of this issue
Next item »

Georg Trakl

print this page

Variations - Georg Trakl

Endurance

 

Recall again those tranquil days,
a gift of happiness from unknown hands.
Look! That town where a fountain plays
remembered music running into sands

of silence. The sick girl waits for him
in a scent of roses. He foresees her death
and wanders where the woods are dim
with sadness. See, the stars hold their breath

and dampen their fires! The mating shriek
of a bird fractures the silence. His shadow closes
on hers as if in embrace. Her weak
smile accepts a sheaf of crimson roses

laid in her hands. His soul is drawn
to her suffering. But at last her face betrays
death’s rigour. Now she moves through corn
and roses, and will move through him always.

 

Each of the following pieces is written as a response to a poem. They cannot be thought of as translations for I am insufficiently skilled in any language but native English. I have taken several English translations and I hope I have created a variation which has captured something of the tone and feel of the original. – Norman Buller

Translated by Norman Buller

Page(s) 199

Back to top