Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgehn
| Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgehn, Als sei kein Ungl�ck die Nacht geschehn! Das Ungl�ck geschah nur mir allein! Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein! Du mu�t nicht die Nacht in dir verschr�nken, Mu�t sie ins ew’ge Licht versenken! Ein L�mplein verlosch in meinem Zelt! Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt! |
Now the sun will as brightly shine As if the night had brought no misfortune. The misfortune fell alone on me; The sun shines on everybody. You must not clasp the night within you, Iit must sink away into everlasting light. A little lamp has gone out in my house! Hail to the joyful light of the world! |
The poem is by Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866); it is also the text of the first song in the Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the death of children) song cycle by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), written one hundred years ago (though not performed until 1905).
Sameer wrote [15.1.2002]: You may want to have a look at Mallarmé’s “Pour un Tombeau d’Anatole”, written in reponse to the illness and death of his eight-year-old son. Fragmentary, agonised, grappling - incredibly human and touching - especially for one whose reputation is so glacial and literary. Just this overwhelming sense of helpless love and sacrifice. Also see Paul Auster’s essay on it - the only bit of Auster I’ve ever read (the “New York Trilogy” stands uncracked on my shelf), but a keen response.