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Gottfried
Benn |
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The star is heaven's flower - the flower an earthly star, symbol of human longing and hope for transcendence, spirituality, immortality ... Aster
(lat.: star) is an almost magic metaphor in the work of G. Benn. 'Kleine Aster' (Little Aster) is an expression of my own thoughts, reflections and feelings since first having attended forensic autopsies about 40 years ago. In my opinion, behind its rude outer appearence the poem's very content and message is in fact of a considerable humane sensitivity. |
Astern Astern - schwälende
Tage, Noch einmal die goldenen
Herden, Noch einmal das Ersehnte, Noch einmal ein Vermuten, 1936 |
Asters
Asters - smoldering
days, The skies, the light,
flow'ry hood, Once again all the
desired, Once again a presuming, (transl. by A. W. Tüting) |
Õszirózsák
Láng napok
- õszirózsák, Még egyszer
az aranyos égi Még egyszer
a rózsa lelke, Csak egyszer egy sejtelem
még, (Rónay György ford.) |
Kleine
Aster
Ein ersoffener
Bierfahrer wurde auf den Tisch gestemmt. Ich packte sie
ihm in die Brusthöhle |
Little Aster A drowned beertruck driver was lifted on the bench.
Somebody had stuck a dark-and-light purple aster
between his teeth to clench.
As I cut out, from within the chest,
under the skin,
with a long knife,
tongue and palate,
I must have touched it, for it slipped
into the brain lying beside.I packed it into the thoracic cavity,
between the excelsior filling,
when they sewed up.
Quench your thirst in your vase!
Rest in peace,
little Aster!
(transl. by A. W. Tüting)
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