Songs
Die letzten Blumen starben
by Robert Schumann From Sieben Lieder von Elisabeth Kulmann (1851) Op. 104 29.v– 5.vi.1851
Die letzten Blumen starben
German source:
Elisabeth Kulmann
Die letzten Blumen starben,
Längst sank die Königin
Der warmen Sommermonde,
Die holde Rose hin!
Du hehre Georgine,
Erhebst nicht mehr dein Haupt!
Selbst meine hohe Pappel
Seh ich schon halb entlaubt.
Bin ich doch weder Pappel,
Noch Rose, zart und schlank,
Warum soll ich nicht sinken,
Da selbst die Rose sank?
The last flowers have died
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The last flowers have died,
The fair rose, queen
Of the warm summer months,
Has long since gone to rest!
You, gracious dahlia,
No longer raise your head!
Even my tall poplar
Has lost half of its flowers.
And I, who am neither poplar,
Nor delicate slender rose,
Why should I not fade,
If even roses fade?
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Die letzten Blumen starben
German source:
Elisabeth Kulmann
The last flowers have died
English source:
Richard Stokes
_Ein Gedicht voll trüber Todesahnung, wohl aus ihrem letzten Lebensjahr. Sie hatte neben ihrer „Hütte“ ein kleines Gärtchen, in dem sie Jahraus, Jahrein, Blumen pflegte. Auch eine Pappel stand in der Nähe._
_A poem full of the presentiment of death, probably dating from the last year of her life. Next to her ‘hut’ there was a little garden, in which year after year she grew flowers. There was also a poplar nearby._
Die letzten Blumen starben,
The last flowers have died,
Längst sank die Königin
The fair rose, queen
Der warmen Sommermonde,
Of the warm summer months,
Die holde Rose hin!
Has long since gone to rest!
Du hehre Georgine,
You, gracious dahlia,
Erhebst nicht mehr dein Haupt!
No longer raise your head!
Selbst meine hohe Pappel
Even my tall poplar
Seh ich schon halb entlaubt.
Has lost half of its flowers.
Bin ich doch weder Pappel,
And I, who am neither poplar,
Noch Rose, zart und schlank,
Nor delicate slender rose,
Warum soll ich nicht sinken,
Why should I not fade,
Da selbst die Rose sank?
If even roses fade?
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
Poet
Elisabeth Kulmann
Elisabeth Kulmann was Russian, German and Italian poet and translator. She was born in the Russian Empire in a large family of Boris Fedorovich, and Mary (née Rosenberg) Kulmann, of German origin. Father, collegiate councilor and a retired captain,…