Mein blaues Klavier / My blue Piano

by Else Lasker-Schüler / Anne Boileau

Mein blaues Klavier

Ich habe zu Hause ein blaues Klavier
Und kenne doch keine Note.
Es steht im Dunkel der Kellertür
Seitdem die Welt verrohte.
Es spielten Sternenhände vier –
Die Mondfrau sang im Boote –
Nun tanzen die Ratten im Geklirr.
Zerbrochen ist die Klaviatür
Ich beweine die blaue Tote.
Ach liebe Engel öffnet mir –
Ich aß vom bitteren Brote –
Mir lebend schon die Himmelstür
Auch wider dem Verbote.

Copyright © Else Lasker-Schüler

My blue Piano

There's a piano at home, it's painted blue
but I can't play a single note.
It has stood in the dark by the cellar door
since the world turned coarse and red.
Hands like stars played a duet for four –
Moon sang her song in the boat –
now rats dance the hammers instead.
The keyboard's destroyed, it will play no more…
I weep for the blue thing, it's dead.
Please, dear Angel, I can but implore –
I have eaten of bitter bread –
let me in through the heavenly door
even though I am not yet dead.

Translation Copyright © 2020 Anne Boileau


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