The Death of a Fly
Greedily she sucks the treacherous drink,
not stopping, seduced by the first sip from the brim.
Although she feels quite well, long since each link
is paralyzed in each fine and delicate limb.
Her little wings she can no longer clean,
her little head she can no longer preen.
And thus she's lost in pleasure's cup,
for now her feet can scarcely hold her up.
Thus she sucks, and even as she drinks,
upon her thousand eyes the death mist sinks.
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1974 -1832
Translated by Robert Kramer
[Fleigentod]
Sie saugt mit Gier verrätrisches Getränke
Unabgesetzt, vom ersten Zug verführt;
Sie fühlt sich wohl, und längst sind die Gelenke
Der zarten Beinchen schon paralysiert,
Nicht mehr gewandt, die Flügelchen zu putzen,
Nicht mehr geschickt, das Köpfchen aufzustutzen,
Das Leben so sich im Genuß verliert.
Zum Stehen kaum wird noch das Füßchen taugen;
So schlürft sie fort, und mitten unterm Saugen
Umnebelt ihr der Tod die tausend Augen.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet, playwright, novelist, courtier, and natural philosopher and according to George Eliot, "Germany's greatest man of letters… and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Goethe's is best know for his tragic drama Faust written in two parts and The Sorrows of Young Werther (German Title: Die Leiden des jungen Werther). He also wrote the scientific text The Theory of Colors and served at length as the Privy Councilor of the duchy of Weimar.
Robert Kramer is widely published poet, playwright, literary critic, and translator of European literature. He currently teaches art history at Manhattan College and is the authors of numerous articles and books on the history of art and literature.
Greedily she sucks the treacherous drink,
not stopping, seduced by the first sip from the brim.
Although she feels quite well, long since each link
is paralyzed in each fine and delicate limb.
Her little wings she can no longer clean,
her little head she can no longer preen.
And thus she's lost in pleasure's cup,
for now her feet can scarcely hold her up.
Thus she sucks, and even as she drinks,
upon her thousand eyes the death mist sinks.
by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1974 -1832
Translated by Robert Kramer
[Fleigentod]
Sie saugt mit Gier verrätrisches Getränke
Unabgesetzt, vom ersten Zug verführt;
Sie fühlt sich wohl, und längst sind die Gelenke
Der zarten Beinchen schon paralysiert,
Nicht mehr gewandt, die Flügelchen zu putzen,
Nicht mehr geschickt, das Köpfchen aufzustutzen,
Das Leben so sich im Genuß verliert.
Zum Stehen kaum wird noch das Füßchen taugen;
So schlürft sie fort, und mitten unterm Saugen
Umnebelt ihr der Tod die tausend Augen.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German poet, playwright, novelist, courtier, and natural philosopher and according to George Eliot, "Germany's greatest man of letters… and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Goethe's is best know for his tragic drama Faust written in two parts and The Sorrows of Young Werther (German Title: Die Leiden des jungen Werther). He also wrote the scientific text The Theory of Colors and served at length as the Privy Councilor of the duchy of Weimar.
Robert Kramer is widely published poet, playwright, literary critic, and translator of European literature. He currently teaches art history at Manhattan College and is the authors of numerous articles and books on the history of art and literature.
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