20 December 2010

December 14

In the Revels yesterday a beautiful poem by Rilke was recited in rough translation:

Advent

The wind drives a flock of snowflakes 
through the winter forest like a shepherd. 
And many of the fir trees sense that soon 
they will be humble in holy brightness
Listening, they stretch out their branches 
to the path of whiteness—
fending off the wind and growing towards 
that one night of splendor. 

ADVENT 

Es treibt der Wind im Winterwalde 
Die Flockenherde wie ein Hirt, 
Und manche Tanne ahnt, wie balde 
Sie fromm und lichterheilig wird, 
Und lauscht hinaus. Den weißen Wegen 
Streckt sie die Zweige hin - bereit, 
Und wehrt dem Wind und wächst entgegen 
Der einen Nacht der Herrlichkeit. 

I forgot to mention. At the Revels a kind gentleman with long white hair and scraggly white beard offered me a free ticket in the orchestra. He was short and he wore a red shirt. Only when I was telling the story later—a little man with long white hair and beard gave me a ticket..." and a friend said "sure, a man with long white beard and wearing a red shirt GAVE you a ticket......right...."

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