Vancouver - A lost Romanze
Far from home, from the life I led in Niagara, I find myself starting anew. But alone, lonely, and going through moments of depression in the big city, I find myself making tenable attempts at connection and turning my situation around. Still, despite all my efforts, my heart is failing me and somehow, I’m failing my heart. It appears things are going from bad to worse. On top of it all, there is a misadventure with a marble flower pot and an emergency call from a new doctor.
“Whoever feels unhappy in this world, whoever fails to find what he seeks - then let him enter the world of books, art and nature, this eternal domain which is both ancient and modern simultaneously, and let him live there in this secret church of a better world. There he will surely find a lover and a friend, a fatherland, a God.”
Looking towards the Wall Center, near the corner of Hornby and Georgia, Vancouver
Lonely Man on Georgia St. Vancouver
Abendfantasie – Friedrich Hölderlin Evening Fantasy
Vor seiner Hütte ruhig im Schatten sitzt In the shadow before his hut the ploughman
Der Pflüger, dem Genügsamen raucht sein Herd. Sits quiet and content – his hearth smoking.
Gastfreundlich tönt dem Wanderer im In the sleepy village, the evening gong
Friedlichen Dorfe die Abendglocke. Peels out welcome for the wanderer.
Wohl kehren itzt die Schiffer zum Hafen auch, Towards the harbour, the boatman too is turning;
In fernen Städten fröhlich verrauscht des Markts In towns distant, the marketplace allows for
Geschäftiger Lärm; in stiller Laube A gentle clatter, in quiet greenery
Glänzt das gesellige Mahl den Freunden. The warm meal gleams amongst friends.
Wohin denn ich? Es leben die Sterblichen Where am I going then? Mortals get by,
Von Lohn und Arbeit; wechselnd in Müh und Ruh Their work and wage, exchanging labour and rest
Ist alles freudig; warum schläft den Is everything joyous; why then is the
Nimmer nur mir in der Brust der Stachel? Sleepless thorn sheltered in my chest?
Am Abendhimmel blühet ein Frühling auf; Across the sky the unfolding spring;
Unzählig blühen die Rosen, und ruhig scheint The roses bloom, countless and the golden world,
Die goldene Welt; o dorthin nehmt mich, shines as if at peace; take me there,
Purpurne Wolken! und möge droben Oh, purple clouds! And may it be above
In Licht und Luft zerrinnen mir Lieb und Leid’! My love and grief fall away in the
Doch, wie verscheucht von törichter Bitte, flieht Shimmering air! But my foolish longing scares
Der Zauber; dunkel wird’s und einsam The moment’s allure, darkness draws in, and
Unter dem Himmel, wie immer, bin ich - Alone under sky, like always, am I.
Komm du nun, sanfter Schlummer! zu viel begehrt You are coming, soft sleep! The heart
Das Herz; doch endlich Jugend! verglühst du ja, Demands and dreams too much, but at last
Du ruhelose, träumerische! Youth smoulders, you restless, yearning one!
Friedlich und heiter ist dann das Alter. Old age is sure to be serene and smiling.
Translation (c) - Christijan Robert Broerse