Poem

[fiddlerslass]

Hi,
 Been going through a suitcase full of photos/documents from my German ancestors and found a Poem written by my grandfather. I can follow the first 2 verses but am struggling with the last from Hermelinverüllt.

Challenge - If anyone fancies having a go at producing an English translation that follows the same meter and vaguely rhymes that would be great!

      "Wintermorgen am Fjord "by Erwin Fritsch

Winterlishes Land im Schein der Sonne.
Inseln liegen, Träumen gleich, im weiten Meer.
Blitzend tanzen Lichter voller Wonne,
lustig springend, auf der Wasserflut einher.

Leise plätschern Wellen ans Gestade,
Laute klingen mir geheimnisvoll ins Ohr.
Steigt nicht bald aus diesem Kühlen Bade,
Zauberhafte, schöne Märchenwelt empor?

Streunen nicht der guten Feen Hände
goldne Pracht wie spielend übers Wasser hin?
Hermelinverhüllt scheint das Gelände.
Märchenland erschliesst sich traumhaft meinem Sinn.

Thanks

[Berlin-Bob]

without meter or rhyme:

Streunen nicht der guten Feen Hände
goldne Pracht wie spielend übers Wasser hin?
Hermelinverhüllt scheint das Gelände.
Märchenland erschliesst sich traumhaft meinem Sinn.

are not the hands of good fairies,
playfully spreading golden splendour over the water ?
the grounds seem vieled in fur,
as if in a dream, it seems to me like Wonderland

(sorry, that last line isn't very good, I'm better at technical, rather than poetic german)
Bob

added:
a "Hermelin"  is a weasel or stoat, but used as an adjective, it can mean 'ermeline' i.e. fur.
there are some phrases here using "hermelin" and "verhüllt" which might give you a better idea of what your grandfather was trying to express:
https://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/search?source=auto&query=hermelin+verh%C3%BCllt
https://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/uebersetzung/hermelinmantel+geh%C3%BCllt.html

[fiddlerslass]

Thanks for the help and the links, Bob.

Regards,
Helen

[davecapps]

my 2 cents

A Winters morning on the Fjörd

Winterland in the sunshine
Islands lay dreamimg in the wide sea
flashing lights dance in blissfulness
jumping around on the tide

waves splash happily on the shore
secret sounds whisper in my ear
an enchanting fairytale land will arise shortly out of these cool waters

the good fairys hands spread the golden splendour,  playfully over the water
The country seems to be covered with fur
This fairytale land seems open my senses as in a dream

Dave

[fiddlerslass]

Very good, Dave.
I hope it made a nice change from the usual scrawl that I have sent your way!
Regards,
Helen