Der Kuß
German source:
Heinrich Heine
In den Kelch der Lilie hinein;
Die Lilie soll klingend hauchen
Ein Lied von der Liebsten mein.
Das Lied soll schauern und beben,
Wie der Kuss von ihrem Mund,
Den sie mir einst gegeben
In wunderbar süsser Stund’.
The Kiss
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
In the lily’s chalice;
The lily shall resound
With a song of my beloved.
The songs shall tremble and quiver
Like the kiss that her lips
Once gave me
In a wondrously sweet hour.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Der Kuß
German source:
Heinrich Heine
The Kiss
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ich will meine Seele tauchen
Let me bathe my soul
In den Kelch der Lilie hinein;
In the lily’s chalice;
Die Lilie soll klingend hauchen
The lily shall resound
Ein Lied von der Liebsten mein.
With a song of my beloved.
Das Lied soll schauern und beben,
The songs shall tremble and quiver
Wie der Kuss von ihrem Mund,
Like the kiss that her lips
Den sie mir einst gegeben
Once gave me
In wunderbar süsser Stund’.
In a wondrously sweet hour.
Composer
Johanna Kinkel
Johanna Kinkel (1810-58), née Mockel, was born in Bonn and died in London. Her parents did not particularly encourage her musical and poetic talents, but she was encouraged through her lessons with Franz Anton Ries, who gave her the opportunity to…
Poet
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…