This week is genre week and I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write about poems. I’ve read two collections that came out recently in English. One was written by Lutz Seiler, the other one by Uljana Wolf.

To be honest, I find it extremely difficult to review poetry collections and will need more time to do so.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share two older poems with you. I like to learn poems by heart and these are two of my favourites. They are perfect choices for the autumn season. Both poems are mournful and rich in imagery.

I hope you’ll like them.

Gottfried Benn – Asters/Astern (1935)

Asters

Asters—sweltering days

old adjuration/curse,

the gods hold the balance

for an uncertain hour.

 

Once more the golden flocks

of heaven, the light, the trim—

what is the ancient process

hatching under its dying wings?

 

Once more the yearned-for,

the intoxication, the rose of you—

summer leaned in the doorway

watching the swallows—

 

one more presentiment

where certainty is not hard to come by:

wing tips brush the face of the waters,

swallows sip speed and night.

(translated by Michael Hofmann)

 

Astern

Astern – schwälende Tage,
alte Beschwörung, Bann,
die Götter halten die Waage
eine zögernde Stunde an.

 

Noch einmal die goldenen Herden,
der Himmel, das Licht, der Flor,
was brütet das alte Werden
unter den sterbenden Flügeln vor?

 

Noch einmal das Ersehnte,
den Rausch, der Rosen Du –
der Sommer stand und lehnte
und sah den Schwalben zu,

 

Noch einmal ein Vermuten,
wo längst Gewißheit wacht:
Die Schwalben streifen die Fluten
Und trinken Fahrt und Nacht.

 

Friedrich Hölderlin – Hälfte des Lebens/Half of Life (1804)