Category Archives: Lenau


Nikolaus Lenau:  “Refuge”

Excerpt:  “Gems of German Lyrics:  Consisting of Selections from Ruckert, Lenau, Chamisso, Freiligrath and Others.”  Translated into English Verse by Henry D. Wireman.  1869.

Nikolaus Lenau: “The Storm”

Excerpt, “Gems of German Lyrics:  Consisting of Selections from Ruckert, Lenau, Chamisso, Freiligrath and Others.”  Translated into English Verse by Henry D. Wireman.  1869.

Nicolaus Lenau: “The Forest of Oaks”

Excerpt, “The Poetry of Germany, Consisting from Upwards of Seventy of the Most Celebrated Poets.”  Translated into English Verse by Alfred Baskerville.  1853.

2the forest of oaks

Nicolaus Lenau: “Invocation of Night”

Excerpt, “Translations From The German Poets.” Edward Stanhope Pearson. 1879.

 

invocation of night2

Nikolaus Lenau: “The Fog”

Excerpt, “Gems of German Lyrics:  Consisting of Selections from Ruckert, Lenau, Chamisso, Freiligrath and Others.”  Translated into English Verse by Henry D. Wireman.  1869.

the fog

 

Lenau: “Wish”

Excerpt, “Gems of German Lyrics:  Consisting of Selections from Ruckert, Lenau, Chamisso, Freiligrath and Others.”  Translated into English Verse by Henry D. Wireman.  1869..

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WISH

Fain would I travel

Far over the sea,

Thou, my beloved,

With thee alone!

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Intruders and list’ners,

And cold disturbers,

Would keep far distant

The surging abyss,

The threatening sea.

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So safe we should be

And happy alone.

Were storms to come

I’d clasp thee firmly

And close to my breast.

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Were billows to thunder

Behold!—Now tires

The roaring commotion,

The waves and the winds are

Falling to slumber,

And over the waters

Tranqulity reigns.

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Thou restest thoughtful

Upon my breast.

So deep the stillness,

My listening heart

Hears answer throbbing

Thy listening heart.

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Though we are alone,

The thoughtful Ocean

Not to disturb, thou

Dost whisper gently,

And softly quiver

Only thy lips,–

The undulating

Leaves of the rose;

I drink in thy words,

The ringing fragrance

Of the lovely rose.

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Nikolaus Lenau: “My Heart”

Translated by Charles Wharton Stork


Mein Herz
1844

Sleepless night, the rushing rain,
While my heart with ceaseless pain
Hears the mournful past subsiding
Or the uncertain future striding.

Heart, 'tis fatal thus to harken,
Let not fear thy courage darken,
Though the past be all regretting
And the future helpless fretting.

Onward, let what's mortal die.
Is the storm near, beat thou high.
Who came safe o'er Galilee
Makes the voyage now in thee.
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