Monday, July 19, 2010

Black Milk of Daybreak


 The poem that inspired Anselm's painting was written by a Holocaust survivor, Paul Celan.

Death Fugue

Black milk of daybreak we drink it at evening
we drink it at midday and morning we drink it at night
we drink and we drink
we shovel a grave in the air there you won't lie too cramped
A man lives in the house he plays with his vipers he writes
he writes when it grows dark to Deutschland your golden hair Margareta
he writes it and steps out of doors and the stars are all sparkling, he whistles his hounds to come close
he whistles his Jews into rows has them shovel a grave in the ground
he commands us to play up for the  dance

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at morning and midday we drink you at evening
we drink and we drink
A man lives in the house he plays with his vipers he writes
he writes when it grows dark to Deutschland your golden hair Margareta
Your ashen hair Shulamith we shovel a grave in the air there you won't lie too cramped 

He shouts jab the earth deeper you lot there you others sing up and play
he grabs for the rod in his belt he swings it his eyes are so blue
jab your spades deeper you lot there you others play on for the dancing
Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at midday and morning we drink you at evening
we drink and we drink
a man lives in the house your goldenes Haar Margareta
your aschenes Haar Shulamith he plays his vipers
He shouts play death more sweetly this Death is a master from Deutschland
he shouts scrape your strings darker you'll rise then as smoke to the sky
you'll have a grave then in the clouds there you won't lie too cramped

Black milk of daybreak we drink you at night
we drink you at midday Death is a master aus Deutschland
we drink you at evening and morning we drink and we drink
this Death is ein Meister aus Deutschland his eye it is blue
he shoots you with shot made of lead shoots you level and true
a man lives in the house your goldenes Haar Margarete
he looses his hounds on us grants us a grave in the air
he plays with his vipers and daydreams der Tod ist ein Meister aus Deutschland
 
dein goldenes Haar Margarete
dein aschenes Haar Shulamith
 

 

14 comments:

  1. That tulle dress is gorgeous, you look like a princess in a fantasy movie!

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  2. first photo is amazing! i am in love with your tulle dress!

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  3. Oh my goodness, how heartbreaking. So poignant and painful, I am so blessed that the hardships in my life are nothing compared to that horror.

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  4. I agree with Avalonne, you two look like you are hanging out in the Labyrinth with David Bowie. (And that is one of my favourite films!) P.S. You look fantastic in silver.

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  5. Amazing post!

    xoxo ~ Courtney
    http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com

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  6. So sad. You guys look like you're in a 1960's art film.

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  7. Those are amazing photos! You look wonderful. Thanks for posting the poem too.

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  8. wow. the poem is beautiful. I am always very impressed with poetry that has been translated--when it is still amazing, the talent that went into the original and then again into the translation. though it always makes me wish I could read the original.

    also: wow to your pics. The first one of you is esp. beautiful.

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  9. I saw that dress and I just sat here for a minute open mouthed. It's incredibly gorgeous. LIke out of a dream or something. So beautiful.

    PS. Don't forget to enter the Giveaway on my blog!

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  10. Beautiful dress with another beautiful backdrop! Powerful poem too.

    Ce qui m'inspire

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  11. LOVE THE POEM

    http://whambamfuckyouman.blogspot.com/

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Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

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