Mondnacht

Es war, als hätt’ der Himmel
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nun träumen müßt'.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis’ die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog durch die stillen Lande,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

Joseph von Eichendorff, 1837

Moonlit Night

As if the Heavens had
The Earth quite gently kissed,
In blossom's shimmer glad,
She dreams of him, so missed.

The air went through the field,
The corn ears swayed so light,
Woods, lowly rustling, yield,
How starry was the night.

And stretched my soul anew
So wide its wings to roam,
Through silent lands, It flew,
As if now flying home.

Transl. by Hilmar Alquiros

Moonlit Night

It was as though Heaven
Had softly kissed the Earth,
So that she in a gleam of blossom
Had only to dream of him.

The breeze passed through the fields,
The corn swayed gently to and fro,
The forests murmured softly,
The night was so clear with stars.

And my soul spread
Her wings out wide,
Flew across the silent land,
As though flying home.

Transl by Richard Stokes*