Emily Dickinson - An irgendeinem Sommermorgen. Poems/Gedichte

Emily Dickinson

Poems/Gedichte

Ausgewählt und übertragen von Gertrud Liepe

Nachwort von Klaus Lubbers

Reclam

1970, 2022 Philipp Reclam jun. Verlag GmbH, Siemensstraße 32, 71254 Ditzingen

Gesamtherstellung: Philipp Reclam jun. Verlag GmbH, Siemensstraße 32, 71254 Ditzingen

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Coverabbildung: shutterstock.com/holaholga

Made in Germany 2022

RECLAM ist eine eingetragene Marke der Philipp Reclam jun. GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart

ISBN 978-3-15-961973-6

ISBN der Buchausgabe 978-3-15-011396-7

www.reclam.de

Ich stehe gern vor dir,

Du Fläche schwarz und rau,

Du schartiges Visier

Vor meines Liebsten Brau’,

– – –

Vorhang am Heiligtume,

Mein Paradiesestor,

Dahinter alles Blume,

Und alles Dorn davor!

Annette von Droste-Hülshoff aus »Die Taxuswand«

Poems

A sepal, petal, and a thorn

Upon a common summer’s morn –

A flask of Dew – A Bee or two –

A Breeze – a caper in the trees –

And I’m a Rose!

ca. 1858

Adrift! A little boat adrift!

And night is coming down!

Will no one guide a little boat

Unto the nearest town?

So Sailors say – on yesterday –

Just as the dusk was brown

One little boat gave up it’s strife

And gurgled down and down.

So angels say – on yesterday –

Just as the dawn was red

One little boat – o’erspent with gales –

Retrimmed it’s masts – redecked it’s sails –

And shot – exultant on!

ca. 1858

Nobody knows this little Rose –

It might a pilgrim be

Did I not take it from the ways

And lift it up to thee.

Only a Bee will miss it –

Only a Butterfly,

Hastening from far journey –

On it’s breast to lie –

Only a Bird will wonder –

Only a Breeze will sigh –

Ah Little Rose – how easy

For such as thee to die!

ca. 1858

Before the ice is in the pools –

Before the skaters go,

Or any cheek at nightfall

Is tarnished by the snow –

Before the fields have finished,

Before the Christmas tree,

Wonder upon wonder

Will arrive to me!

What we touch the hems of

On a summer’s day –

What is only walking

Just a bridge away –

That which sings so – speaks so –

When there’s no one here –

Will the frock I wept in

Answer me to wear?

ca. 1858

I robbed the Woods –

The trusting Woods.

The unsuspecting Trees

Brought out their Burs and mosses

My fantasy to please.

I scanned their trinkets curious –

I grasped – I bore away –

What will the solemn Hemlock –

What will the Oak tree say?

ca. 1858

Could live – did live –

Could die – did die –

Could smile upon the whole

T[h]rough faith in one he met not,

To introduce his soul.

Could go from scene familiar

To an untraversed spot –

Could contemplate the journey

With unpuzzled heart –

Such trust had one among us,

Among us not today –

We who saw the launching

Never sailed the Bay!

1858

If I should die,

And you should live –

And time sh’d gurgle on –

And morn sh’d beam –

And noon should burn –

As it has usual done –

If Birds should build as early

And Bees as bustling go –

One might depart at option

From enterprise below!

Tis sweet to know that stocks will stand

When we with Daisies lie –

That Commerce will continue –

And Trades as briskly fly –

It makes the parting tranquil

And keeps the soul serene –

That gentlemen so sprightly

Conduct the pleasing scene!

ca. 1858

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne’er succeed.

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host

Who took the Flag today

Can tell the definition

So clear of Victory

As he defeated – dying –

On whose forbidden ear

The distant strains of triumph

Burst agonized and clear!

ca. 1859

A something in a summer’s Day

As slow her flambeaux burn away

Which solemnizes me.

A something in a summer’s noon –

A depth – an Azure – a perfume –

Transcending extasy.

And still within a summer’s night

A something so transporting bright

I clap my hands to see –

Then vail my too inspecting face

Lest such a subtle – shimmering grace

Flutter too far for me –

The wizard fingers never rest –

The purple brook within the breast

Still chafes it’s narrow bed –

Still rears the East her amber Flag –

Guides still the Sun along the Crag

His Caravan of Red –

So looking on – the night – the morn

Conclude the wonder gay –

And I meet, coming thro’ the dews

Another summer’s Day!

ca. 1859

These are the days when Birds come back –

A very few – a Bird or two –

To take a backward look.

These are the days when skies resume

The old – old sophistries of June –

A blue and gold mistake.

Oh fraud that cannot cheat the Bee –

Almost thy plausibility

Induces my belief.

Till ranks of seeds their witness bear –

And softly thro’ the altered air

Hurries a timid leaf.

Oh Sacrament of summer days,

Oh Last Communion in the Haze –

Permit a child to join.

Thy sacred emblems to partake –

Thy consecrated bread to take

And thine immortal wine!

ca. 1859

Besides the Autumn poets sing

A few prosaic days

A little this side of the snow

And that side of the Haze –

A few incisive Mornings –

A few Ascetic Eves –

Gone – Mr Bryant’s »Golden Rod« –

And Mr Thomson’s »sheaves«.

Still, is the bustle in the Brook –

Sealed are the spicy valves –

Mesmeric fingers softly touch

The Eyes of many Elves –

Perhaps a squirrel may remain –

My sentiments to share –

Grant me, Oh Lord, a sunny mind –

Thy windy will to bear!

ca. 1859

At last, to be identified!

At last, the lamps upon thy side

The rest of Life to see !

Past Midnight! Past the Morning Star!

Past Sunrise!

Ah, What leagues there were

Between our feet, and Day!

ca. 1860

If I should’nt be alive

When the Robins come,

Give the one in Red Cravat,

A Memorial crumb.

If I could’nt thank you,

Being fast asleep,

You will know I’m trying

With my Granite lip!

ca. 1860

Come slowly – Eden!

Lips unused to Thee –

Bashful – sip thy Jessamines –

As the fainting Bee –

Reaching late his flower,

Round her chamber hums –