Unpublished Lehmann poetry discovered in the Special Collections at UCSB
Lehmann’s poetry from her 1969 book Gedichte
Lehmann’s poetry from the 1923 book Verse in Prosa
Below are various Lehmann poems from random sources
From December 3, 1932
| Es klingt ein starker Klang in mir, ein süsses, wundersames Lied. Das mich mit weicher linder Hand In weite, weite Ferne zieht. Durch meiner Nächte Träume schwebt der mir ein hohes Ziel verheisst, der meine Tage jauchzend macht und sonnenwärts mich siegend reisst. | There is a strong sonority within me, a sweet, wondrous song. That draws me far, far away with a soft, gentle hand. Through my night’s dreams floats the one element that promises me a high goal, that makes my days rejoicing and snatches me triumphantly towards the sun. |
[Here is a second translation of In Alten Partituren]
| Today I have read old musical scores – And, suddenly, the past crashes into my present… O colorful beauty which was once mine – O life, fatefully renewed In fleeting time, removed from the world! The delight of transformation – who can conceive of it Who live only ONE life which is limited by reality? He, who never knows this sweet self-forgetting. This self-squandering to time, When the self dissolves in singing – Living and suffering – hovering as if on wings In a foreign, peculiarly personal fate – Hovering on the wings of Music! |
Here’s an English translation of Lehmann’s poem “Dreiklang” or “Triad” by Judith Sutcliffe
A late Lehmann poem with a translation by Beaumont Glass
| Vergessen gibt, Ich glaube, eines Engels Hand, Denn abgewandt Sind wir von dem was einst gewesen. Genesen von vielen Menschenleben Müssen, im Aufwärtsstreben, Auf’s Neu’ und Aberneue wir ersteh’n, Bis wir verweh’n In jenem Morgenrot, Das golden in mein Fenster loht — Im Wind — in Meereswogen — Im Sternenstrahl — im Regenbogen — Im Lächeln Gottes, das du leuchten siehst, Wenn Abendgold im Meer zerfliesst. | Perhaps it is an angel’s hand That grants oblivion; For we are turned aside From what has been before. Though healed from many human lives, We must be born, and ever born again, Until we fade away Into that golden dawn That now is glowing through my window, One with the wind — the waves — The starlight — and the rainbow — One with the smile of God, That lights the sky When golden sunsets melt into the sea. |
The following pages are from the recital program of Thomas Pasatieri’s cycle based on Lehmann’s poems. They are from Lehmann’s 1969 book Gedichte and will be found (in a different order and with different translations at Lehmann’s poetry from her 1969 book Gedichte.
Finally, for those who always assume Lotte Lehmann was serious and or profound, here’s something silly:
