Walther von der Vogelweide

December 6, 2019 by joachim

 

 

Walther von der Vogelweide, a 12th century Minnesaenger, is regarded as one of the greatest German poets next to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

I ran into his poems recently on the internet.  One of them gave me the chills since it so much resonates with my own feeling nowadays.  I’m reproducing here the first part only, in English.  The original old German version is difficult to understand for me.

Alas! Where have all the years gone?
Did I dream my life, or is it real?
What I always thought – was that something?
Then I’ve slept and don’t know it…
Now I’m awake, and I no longer know
What used to be familiar as my own hands:
People and places, where I was raised from childhood,
They are strangers to me, as if it were all lies.
Those who were my playmates are old and indolent.
Meadows are farmed, forests are felled,
If it were not for the water, which flows as ever before,
ah, then I’d believe that my misfortune is truly great.
Many no longer even greet me, who once knew me well.
The world is full of ingratitude everywhere.
When I think of the many glorious days,
They disappear, like ripples in the water –
Forever more – alas!

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