TRANSLATIONS

The Spruce Tree by Heinrich Heine

A spruce-tree stands alone

in the north, on the bare heights;

it slumbers; in a white blanket

it is surrounded by ice and snow.

It dreams of a palm tree

which, far-off in the land of the morning,*

grieves, alone and mute,

on a burning, rocky wall.

*[i.e. the Orient]

translation by Emily Ezust

Songs of the Forest by Gustav Pfarrius

The Hut

Surrounded by the green forest,

Where treetop towers over treetop,

In a quiet meadow valley

I have built my hut.

It stands sheltered from storms

By the grey mossy cliff,

Giant trees tower over it

In friendly protection;

The rose blooms in at the window,

The green vine climbs to the roof,

And murmuring secret words of love,

The meadow brook flows by.

In a fortunate hour

I came across the site in the wood,

And in this remote valley

Have built this cozy cottage.

Smiled on by rosy dawn,

How fresh and alive it gazes toward the wood,

With evening breezes blowing about it,

It dreamily fades into the valley;

At midday with its branches

A forest tree provides shade.

At night the meadow elves

Dance around it, softly singing.

Surrounded by the green forest,

Where treetop towers over treetop,

There, Nature, in your preserve,

I have built my hut.

Warning

The day is declining

that offered light and freedom;

be silent, little bird,

you are singing yourself into death.

The night winds stir,

the leaves tremble in fear;

your song betrays you

to your enemies that listen therein.

The burning eyes of the screech-owl

glower their menace through the branches;

be silent, little bird,

you are singing yourself into death.

The Bridegroom and the Birch Tree

Birch tree, beauty of the woods,

I am to marry,

I need many things,

What will you give me?

“I’ll give you a green bouquet,

For you to carry at the wedding feast.”

The green bouquet pleases me very well,

Birch tree, what else will you give me?

“I’ll give you a sturdy broom

For your young wife to sweep with.”

The sturdy broom pleases me very well;

Birch tree, what else will you give me?

“I’ll give you a whip-stick

To use on the backs of many horses.”

The whip-stick pleases me very well;

Birch tree, what else will you give me?

“I’ll give you wine as well;

Let my sap run, and you’ll be happy.”

The birch-sap pleases me very well;

Birch tree, what else will you give me?

“I’ve given you now all I possess,

All I have left is my very life.”

In which case, birch tree, your life’s a burden;

I am to marry,

I need many things,

Come with me and heat my little room!

translations by Graham Johnson