Once is not custom, I would publish here one of my translations of poems by writers of German language, in this case, Bertolt Brecht, whose work I particularly appreciate. The poem in question, "Vom Mädchen ertrunkenen" was chosen because it is a poem that never left me indifferent, or by the opposition of his images - which candor and grotesque mingle in a context that is both pathetic and edifying - or by choosing the theme, apparently trivial, but the genius of Brecht was able to create a poem steeped in emotion and restraint of rare lucidity.
HOV Drowned girl
Bertolt Brecht
first
had drowned when they swam down and
of the streams in the larger rivers
track the opal of the sky very strange
As if he had to appease the dead body.
second
seaweed and algae stuck to her a
So that it was much harder to slow.
cooling the fish swam her leg
complained of plants and animals get their last ride.
third
And the sky was dark as night
smoke and keeping the night with the stars the light in the balance. But early
was he bright that it even still they give
for morning and evening.
4th When her pale body
rotted in the water was
Was it (very slowly), that God forgot to gradually
Only her face, hands, and then last of all her hair.
Then she became carrion in rivers with much carrion.
SUR LA FILLE NOYE
first
Lorsqu'elle s'était noye et en descendit nageant
Depuis les grands Ruisseaux jusqu'aux Fleuves
L'du ciel opal semblait
Comme s'il devait très miraculeux réconcilier le cadavre.
second
Seaweed and algae stood her
And so it became increasingly cumbersome.
Coldly fish swam on his leg.
Plants and animals adds further to its final journey.
3.
And the evening sky was dark as the smoke
And he held with the stars at night light suspended.
But soon he was clear, as if it still existed
For morning and evening.
4.
When her pale body rots in the water,
It turns out (very slowly) God forgot gradually
First the face, then hands, and end the hair.
And then it becomes carrion into rivers filled with corpses.
© 2009 for the French translation by André Bessa and ProLitteris Zurich
