Die Kreuze
German source:
Otto Erich Hartleben
Dran die Dichter stumm verbluten,
Blindgeschlagen von der Geier
Flatterndem Gespensterschwarme!
In den Leibern schwelgten Schwerter,
Prunkend in des Blutes Scharlach!
Heilge Kreuze sind die Verse,
Dran die Dichter stumm verbluten.
Tot das Haupt - erstarrt die Locken -
Fern, verweht der Lärm des Pöbels.
Langsam sinkt die Sonne nieder,
Eine rote Königskrone. -
Heilge Kreuze sind die Verse!
The crosses
(1996)
English translation ©
Roger Marsh
On which poets bleed to death in silence,
Sightless, with their eyes pecked out
By flocks of ghostly vultures.
Bodies by the sword devoured,
Now adorned by bleeding scarlet!
Holy crosses are the verses
On which poets bleed in silence.
Lifeless head, the hair stiff matted,
Faint and distant cheers the rabble.
Slowly comes the fading sunset,
Like a crown of royal crimson.
Holy crosses are the verses.
Die Kreuze
German source:
Otto Erich Hartleben
The crosses (1996)
English source:
Roger Marsh
Heilge Kreuze sind die Verse,
Holy crosses are the verses
Dran die Dichter stumm verbluten,
On which poets bleed to death in silence,
Blindgeschlagen von der Geier
Sightless, with their eyes pecked out
Flatterndem Gespensterschwarme!
By flocks of ghostly vultures.
In den Leibern schwelgten Schwerter,
Bodies by the sword devoured,
Prunkend in des Blutes Scharlach!
Now adorned by bleeding scarlet!
Heilge Kreuze sind die Verse,
Holy crosses are the verses
Dran die Dichter stumm verbluten.
On which poets bleed in silence.
Tot das Haupt - erstarrt die Locken -
Lifeless head, the hair stiff matted,
Fern, verweht der Lärm des Pöbels.
Faint and distant cheers the rabble.
Langsam sinkt die Sonne nieder,
Slowly comes the fading sunset,
Eine rote Königskrone. -
Like a crown of royal crimson.
Heilge Kreuze sind die Verse!
Holy crosses are the verses.
Composer
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg or Schönberg was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter. He was associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School.
