Collection: Support Great Poetry: No. 1

Ojo: Please read this aloud. Note the symbols, images, allusions, figures of speech and nuances the author uses.

Death Fugue (Paul Celan) translated by Marion Faithful

Black milk of daybreak we drink it at sundown
we drink it at noon in the morning we drink it at night
we drink it and drink it
we dig a grave in the breezes there one lies unconfined
A man lives in the house he plays with the serpents he writes
he writes when dusk falls to Germany your golden hair Margarete
he writes it and steps out of doors and the stars are flashing he whistles his pack out
he whistles his Jews out in earth has them dig for a grave
he commands us strike up for the dance

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you in the morning at noon we drink you at sundown
we drink and we drink you
A man lives in the house he plays with the serpents he writes
he writes when dusk falls to Germany your golden hair Margarete
your ashen hair Sulamith we dig a grave in the breezes there one lies unconfined
He calls out jab deeper into the earth you lot you others sing now and play
he grabs at the iron in his belt he waves it his eyes are blue
jab deeper you lot with your spades you others play on for the dance

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at noon in the morning we drink you at sundown
we drink and we drink you
a man lives in the house your golden hair Margarete
your ashen hair Sulamith he plays with the serpents
He calls out more sweetly play death death is a master from Germany
(Der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland)
he calls out more darkly now stroke your strings then as smoke you will rise into the air
then a grave you will have in the clouds there one lies unconfined

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at noon death is a master from Germany
(Der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland)
we drink you at sundown and in the morning we drink and we drink you
death is a master from Germany (Der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland) his eyes are blue
he strikes out with leaden bullets his aim is true
a man lives in the house your golden hair Margarete
he sets his pack on to us he grants us a grave in the air
He plays with the serpents and daydreams death is a master from Germany
(Der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland)

your golden hair Margarete
your ashen hair Sulamith