Afterwards, I strode alone
\nInto the full light of day
\nAnd saw, with eyes of my own,
\nThe sheer joy of those at play.<\/p>\n
About that secret hour,
\nKnow only that within
\nI feel a new-born power:
\nBeauty in my\u00a0lips and limbs.<\/p>\n
Trees, scrubs and meadows
\nGlow greener than before.
\nWater as I pour it flows
\nFresher down my skin.<\/p>\n
After Bertolt Brecht:<\/strong><\/p>\n Als ich nachher von dir ging<\/em> Und seit jener Abendstund<\/em> Gr\u00fcner ist, seit ich so f\u00fchl<\/em> ***<\/p>\n The first title was<\/em> Lied einer Liebenden (Song of a [female] Lover). Composed for a lieder cycle for voice and guitar by Paul Dessau<\/a>. As in the Heine translation below, I have been guided by comments<\/a> by the late Marcel Reich-Ranicki. He errs perhaps in imagining that the throes of passion could have such an effect only the first time, but he intelligently observes that this first time should not be thought of as a deflowering, rather as a blossoming, since, afterwards, we see the world very differently:\u00a0<\/em>Der erste Geschlechtsverkehr hat in der Regel nicht Entbl\u00fchung zur Folge, sondern Erbl\u00fchen: Es \u00e4ndert sich das Verh\u00e4ltnis zur Welt.<\/p>\n Afterwards, I strode alone Into the full light of day And saw, with eyes of my own, The sheer joy of those at play. About that secret hour, Know only that within I feel a new-born power: Beauty in my\u00a0lips and limbs. Trees, scrubs and meadows Glow greener than before. Water as I pour it … <\/p>\n
\n An dem gro\u00dfen Heute<\/em>
\n Sah ich, als ich sehn anfing<\/em>
\n Lauter lustige Leute.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Wei\u00dft schon, die ich meine<\/em>
\n Hab ich einen sch\u00f6nern Mund.<\/em>
\n Und geschicktere Beine.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Baum und Strauch und Wiese<\/em>
\n Und das Wasser sch\u00f6ner k\u00fchl<\/em>
\n Wenn ich\u2019s auf mich gie\u00dfe.<\/em><\/p>\n