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Fatherland
I used to have a handsome fatherland.
The oaks were tall and violets gently nodded in the breeze. A dream was all. He kissed me in German, spoke to me in German (I still recall the joyous sound); “I love you” were his words. A dream was all. 15 August 2010
Written in France,
I find this the most heartfelt of all Heine poems.
It has a unique dreamlike feeling that I tried to capture.
The translation is interpretive. For comparison, here is a more literal translation (which I expect some will prefer). I once had a beautiful fatherland. The oak trees there Grew so tall, and violets nodded softly. It was a dream. It kissed me in German and said in German (You’d hardly believe How good it sounded) the words: “I love you!” It was a dream. |