Monthly Archives: December 2016

Alter (Old-Age)

Alter

Das aber ist des Alters Schöne,
Daß es die Saiten reiner stimmt,
Daß es der Lust der grellen Töne,
Dem Schmerz den herbsten Stachel nimmt.

Ermessen läßt sich und verstehen,
Die eigne mit der fremden Schuld,
Und wie auch rings die Dinge gehen,
Du lernst dich fassen in Geduld.

Die Ruhe kommt erfüllten Strebens,
Es schwindet des verfehlten Pein
Und also wird der Rest des Lebens
Ein sanftes Rückerinnern sein.

Old-Age

As I reflect at an older age,
I am less bothered by the unnecessary,
I take pleasure in the brightest significance,
while anticipating the bitterest sting.

Whatever the circumstances,
any who have regrets remaining,
seek forgiveness with best abilities’,
learning patience when reprieved.

Anticipate calm when persisting,
as dormant pain fades,
living eases into death,
and memories become gentle.

Alter by Ferdinand von Saar (1883-1906)
Interpretation of Alter for David DeMuth by his son David, 12/2016

Obfuscated Reality

His tribe, progress slow
The damp shaded forest, a shelter
Fired warmth limited, instead shivers managed under wooded bundles
They operate the moist darkness content that morning has come once more
Never forwarding beyond despair, never breeding knowledge.

An ordinary voice rings the horizon, catching latent attention
Fatigued, shivering, capacity for innovation challenged, eyes open with desire
Standing at the forest boundary, souls trusting submit
Alien possibility resonate with the cadence of the approaching machine
Hardened angst obfuscating reality, the loudest voice is heard.

Sequestered fears resolve into hope by the believers
A daily march begins toward fulfilled promise
Bias, righteousness typically necessary by each convert
While the displaced carry on numbly
Harshest is the reality that truth and equity are not goals.