J’adoube,
she says, wiping her eyes again
Her fingers nowhere near the last chessmen.
Her game is failing fast, while she lip-syncs
Heinrich Heine’s lyrics to Schumann’s notes:
Du bist wie eine Blume
So hold und schön und rein;
Ich schau' dich an,
Und Wehmut schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.
So hold und schön und rein;
Ich schau' dich an,
Und Wehmut schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.
Her game is lost within the song, I
guess
She touches knights as if she
could them bless.
J’adoube, she says—too late—but
I’m not mean
Enough to make her lose her role
as queen.
Mir ist,
als ob ich die Hände
Aufs Haupt dir legen sollt',
Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte
So rein und schön und hold—
Aufs Haupt dir legen sollt',
Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte
So rein und schön und hold—
I must adjust, win where I can, in chess
if not as her King of Hearts, I confess
I’d like to hold her flower-like, above
the heart that would stay her in love.
Betend, daß
Gott dich erhalte
So rein und schön und hold.
So rein und schön und hold.
Posted for my prompt Poets United Midweek Motif ~ In Two or More Languages. My languages are English, German, French, chess, and unrequited love. It was also supposed to be an anti-war protest with lines like "she moved as if each square were a battlefield"--way too corny. Let's call this a work-in-progress. BTW, almost all of the German words are translated within the English.
Copyright © 2014 S.L.Chast
I really like the way you used language here, Susan. You have described an interesting situation here. Sometimes it does seem like life is a chess game...and stalemates, in chess and life, occur all too often.
ReplyDeleteA most refreshing change, a wonderful read also the language was an added bonus,
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
A most refreshing change in poetry, loved the language between verses. A great read.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
chess and love always at odds.
ReplyDeletestrong expression which the German emphasizes
This poem reads as intelligently as that game of chess itself....the alternating of the verses in their languages really works. Cool story!
ReplyDeletechess and love are both games that take looking ahead beyond the move you are about to make and at how that affects everything else on the board....the interconnectedness of all the pieces...interesting blend of languages...unrequitted love...oy, that can surely be painful...
ReplyDeleteVery creative weaving of verses, English and German ~ Check mate, I say ~ I will try to write to the prompt ~
ReplyDeletewell done Susan you met the challenge from the prompt so well...very creative.. this one I hit a wall.. my lady speaks Cantonese as well as English which is means I ran into a wall when trying to combine the two...except maybe the cursing part which I have picked up quite well... :)
ReplyDeleteCool mix - anytime you can bring chess and unrequited love together I am going to be hooked. Love the use of language here, a very new world, international flavor
ReplyDeletechess and love both have some associations with the battlefield....you've brilliantly blended the different languages...
ReplyDeletevery lyrical!
ReplyDeleteI like how the language (and game) of chess is a metaphor for life's bigger issues..never pays to get too lost in the game!
ReplyDelete'beautiful-the game lost within the song'
ReplyDeleteLyric and tender poem Susan. I especially like that final section in English and last two lines of German.
ReplyDeleteMasterful interpretation of the chess term J'adoube', meaning I'm not moving a piece, just cleaning/tidying up a little, and then wiping her eye to remove the tears instead.
ReplyDeleteThis must be such a personal poem for you. Thanks for having the courage to share.
Awesome :-)
ReplyDeleteZQ
Wonderful poetry!! Great work Susan!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool challenge. I just found out about it, through Kenia. German always reminds me of Marlene Dietrich and how she sang "Lily Marlene".
ReplyDeleteDo I possibly love it because I'm fluent in unrequited love? This was a great challege. Thanks! <3
ReplyDelete