Comments | kellyrfineman: The First Violet by Karl Egon Ebert, trans. by Kelly Ramsdell Fineman

kellyrfineman

The First Violet by Karl Egon Ebert, trans. by Kelly Ramsdell Fineman

Mar 25, 2011 09:05

This morning is tentatively sunny, with evidence of spring appearing in the neighborhood. Buds on trees, birds singing and calling, daffodils and jonquils starting to bloom. For this particular Poetry Friday, I decided to share a poem I learned as a song (a lied) - "Das Erste Veilchen" - in its original German, which I've translated ( Read more... )

translation, analysis of poems, poetry friday, ebert, german poems, charities, fineman, poetry

Comments 10

dotificus March 25 2011, 13:25:34 UTC

Nice! Both the poem and the song. I'm trying to hold on tight to my Frühlingstraum. Is that the part that means dream of Spring? I just hope the coming snows don't kill all my daffy down dillies.

kellyrfineman March 25 2011, 14:06:01 UTC

Frühlingstraum is indeed dream of Spring (or Springdream - gotta love how they smack words together to make new ones).

BOO for coming snow!!

mlyearofreading March 25 2011, 15:54:19 UTC

Leafblowers already in your world?!?!? Seems like a long time away from us here in hail and freeze land. (sorry...distracted by your mood button...)

I'm working on my German for a trip to Belgium/Netherlands/Germany this summer -- thanks for the translation, discussion and song!

kellyrfineman March 25 2011, 16:05:25 UTC

Ooh -that sounds like a fun trip! My German definitely helped me in the Netherlands and Belgium (I could read signs really well, even though the Dutch spellings differ from the German in some ways, and I even was able to understand most of what a tour guide was saying when hubby & I visited the Duvel brewery - he spoke to us in English, but later did a presentation for a school group of 14 yos on the proper way to pour a beer, and I could follow pretty well!)

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kellyrfineman March 26 2011, 02:10:46 UTC

I know. Bummer.

cloudscome March 27 2011, 10:59:33 UTC

Violets don't come out here for another month or so, but we do have Vinca, which are almost as good. And the cherrys are about to bust open... :) Each in his own time - we just sit back and enjoy the show! Love the way you've translated this poem. Delightful! Good luck in the auction.

kellyrfineman March 27 2011, 12:44:48 UTC

I believe I raised $85 for UNICEF, so I'm pleased.

And I know it's early for violets, but since I was singing the song, I decided I'd post the poem anyway!!

cloudscome April 6 2011, 01:12:27 UTC

Well look what I saw in the neighbor's yard today! http://tiny.cc/jcjt9 Turns out it's not too early for violets at all!! Happy you!

kellyrfineman April 6 2011, 03:24:34 UTC

How wonderful! And thank you for coming back to let me know AND gifting me with a photo!

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kellyrfineman March 28 2011, 13:49:42 UTC

The contrast is stark - and the vocal setting really highlights it, chucking the first part of the second stanza into a minor key rather than keeping it in a happy major tone, but returning to the major key for the dream of Spring in the last line. *happy sigh*