Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Was schlimm ist.. What's bad





    Was schlimm ist
    Gottfried Benn  1886 - 1956

    Benn ungewohnt heiter, auf den ersten Blick jedoch nur. Nach wenigen Versen beginnt die Leichtigkeit zu schwinden, weicht ahnungsvoller Bedeutungsschwere.
    Die letzten Gedanken des Gedichts verloren am Ende ihre Schrecknis für Benn. Er starb an einem Sommertag, „wenn alles hell ist und die Erde für Spaten leicht“.

    Aus "Das Literarische Cafe"

    ----------------------------------------------------------


    Was schlimm ist
     Gottfried Benn

    Wenn man kein Englisch kann,
    von einem guten englischen Kriminalroman zu hören,
    der nicht ins Deutsche übersetzt ist.

    Bei Hitze ein Bier sehn,
    das man nicht bezahlen kann.

    Einen neuen Gedanken haben,
    den man nicht in einen Hölderlin Vers einwickeln kann,
    wie es die Professoren tun.

    Nachts auf Reisen Wellen schlagen hören
    und sich sagen, daß sie das immer tun.

    Sehr schlimm: eingeladen sein,
    wenn zu Hause die Räume stiller,
    der Café besser
    und keine Unterhaltung nötig ist.

    Am schlimmsten:
    nicht im Sommer sterben,
    wenn alles hell ist
    und die Erde für Spaten leicht. 




    _________________________________________

    What's bad 
    by Gottfried Benn  1886 - 1956



    Not knowing English
    and hearing about a new English thriller
    that has not been translated.


    Seeing a cold beer, when it is hot
    and not being able to afford it.


    Having a new idea
    that you cannot encapsulate in a  Hölderlin line,
    the way the professors do.

    Hearing the waves  beat against the shore on a holiday night
    and thinking, that is the way they always do.

    Very bad:
    being invited,
    when your home is quieter,
    the coffee better
    and not have to make small talks.


    Worst of all:
    not to die in summer,
    when the days are brighter
    and the earth yields easily to spade.


    _______________________________________________________________

      PS. My dear friends for so many years...
      Please take a look at the blog of my mentor in photography:
      HERE
      For a very long time I have been following his advice...

      25 comments:

      1. Bei Hitze ein Bier.....wäääääähhhh...da kippt man doch gleich aus den Latschen ;-)

        Grüssle

        ReplyDelete
      2. Nova.
        Haste mich zum Grinsen gebracht....

        ReplyDelete
      3. Ich schließe mich Nova mal an. Bier in der Hitze geht gar nicht.
        LG Sabine

        ReplyDelete
      4. liebe Monika,
        das ist fast zum Alltag geworden, ein Schicksal steht vor vielen, unbemerkt und still.
        ganz liebe Grüße von Jasmin

        ReplyDelete
      5. º°✿
        º° ✿✿♫
        As fotos são tão tristes.
        A poesia fala de morte, mas também hoje é dia dos mortos...
        Essa foto do corredor comprido e alagada é tão sombria.
        Bom mês de novembro.
        Beijinhos.
        Brasilº°✿
        º°✿✿♫

        ReplyDelete
      6. Liebe Monika,
        ich sag nur: danke für dieses Gedicht.
        Passt hervorragend zu deinen Fotos.
        Liebe Abendgrüße von
        Irmi

        ReplyDelete
      7. I like your photographs, Monika. Sometimes, I see the world like this when I have been drinking heavily; more often, I see the world like this when I am walking along a street deep in thought. I am not sure I realized that before now.

        As for your poet, I like what he writes and I agree with his conclusions. The last verse brought a smile to my face. I immediately thought of Ötzi, the Iceman mummy from the Alps. There are times I think I would like to die as he did, and have my body found when the ice melts 5,000 years later.

        All-in-all, a very enjoyable post and one that made my mind whirl a bit.

        ReplyDelete
      8. Καλό μήνα γλυκιά μου
        Ομορφιές :)

        ReplyDelete
      9. Great shots and sentiments, Monika!

        ReplyDelete
      10. Καλώς ήρθες αγαπημένη μου Μόνικα!
        Με τους πολύ ωραίους στίχους και τις συγκλονιστικές σου φωτογραφίες!!!
        Πήγα στον Βασίλη, έχει καταπληκτικές φωτογραφίες!
        Πολλά φιλάκια, καλό βράδυ!

        ReplyDelete
      11. Καλημέρα Μόνικα....
        Όμορφοι οι στίχοι και το μπλόγκ του Βασίλη.
        Μπορεί πολλά να μάθει κανείς βλέποντας τις φωτογραφίες του και μελετώντας την τεχνική του...
        Όπως μαθαίνει κανείς πολλά όταν επισκέπτεται το blog το δικό σου.
        Κωστής

        ReplyDelete
      12. Wow, what a great poem ... it's like that you can almost touch it ...but you can't. ... very deep. PS you have a great photography mentor.

        ReplyDelete
      13. Ah, not being able to afford a beer when it is hot - a tragedy, Monika ! But seriously, a poignant poem, especially the ending. Hertzliche Grüße !

        ReplyDelete
      14. A dramatic shot.
        But I´m proud you use the photography for denouncing this situation.
        Thanks for sharing the blog of your mentor.
        Really nice to meet new photographers.
        Kisses, my dear!

        ReplyDelete
      15. Very strong images and words, my dear friend. Times are hard everywhere it seems, and all we can do as artists is to show them as they really are. Hope you are well.

        ReplyDelete
      16. i admire you, monika!
        those aremagnificent shots, arty, with great composition!

        i also love the lighting in the second photo!

        very well done you! :)

        big hugs
        betty

        p.s. thanks so much for your wonderful comments and support.

        ReplyDelete
      17. Hola, te acabo de conocer, muy buenas fotos. Un beso desde Murcia..seguimos...

        ReplyDelete
      18. Meine Liebe,

        ich mag das Gedicht so sehr, danke dafür...

        Für dich einen schönen ersten Advent!!!

        von Herzen, deine Rachelakola

        ReplyDelete
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