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THE ROBITSCHEK CORRESPONDENCE PROJECT |  |
| December 28, 1916 - written to Miss Frida Robitschek from Praskoles(y), then in Austria but subsequently in Czhechoslovakia. | ||
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The picture has been cut from an illustration printed on card stock. It shows a man bowed in grief or prayer at a grave in a country graveyard. Without, the day is sunny in the season of spring or summer, but like the author of the poem, the man pictured here instead pays his respects to Death. Does he admire or seek the courage of Death? And what of the unspoken word in the poem, faith?
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Des Lenzes Grün, Des Sommers Pracht,
Sind Truggebilde leer und hohl, Des Herbstes Grau, des Winters Nacht, Allein sind Erdenseins Symbol. Was schert der Tod der Blüten Mai, Der Früchte Rot, der Stamme Kraft, Verhöhnen alles Lebens Weih' Führt er beherzt der Sense Schaft. |
The green of spring, the summer's splendor,
Are illusions empty and hollow. The grey of autumn, the winter's night, Alone symbolize Earth's nature. What cares Death for the blooms of May, The red of fruits, the strength of trees; Mocking all life's glories, He boldly directs the sythe's handle. | |
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Die Geschichte ist ein Sym-
bol der Begebenheiten. Man sieht das Bild, doch die Seele fehlt. Sie zu er- setzen ist das Bemühen der Phantasie. So ensteht die Dichtung. Klio wird zur Modedame. Ihr Kleid allein weckt den Reiz. Ihr Wesen, wenn es nicht geschmückt ist, bleibt im Hintergrunde. Die engli- schen, franz&omul;sischen und russischen und auf die bil- derreichen italienischen Ge- schichtsschreiber werden der- einst dem Bilde im Spiegel ihrer Phantasie lachen. Man kann schon heute deren Wahr- heit warten, wenn schon jetzt angesichts lebenden Augen = und Ohrenzeugen Orgien der Lüge, Verdre- hung unf Fälschung gefei- ert werden. |
History is a symbol
of events. One sees the picture, but the soul is missing. To replace it requires the work of imagination. Thus emerges poetry. Cleo* becomes a fashion model. Her facade is the sole attraction. Her inner nature, when it is not adorned, remains in the background. The English, French and Russian and the picturesque Italian writers of history will in the future laugh at the reflections in the mirror of their fantasies. One can even today await the truth, even in view of living eyes and ears witnessing orgies of lies, distortions and forgeries that are celebrated. *(Klio) Clio is the Muse of Hsitory | |
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Steckenpferd Lilienmilch Seife was a facial soap made by Bergmann & Co., so the tag line "produces tender white skin" is not at all surprising. However, the scene of carnage inspired by Schiller's Die Jungfrau von Orleans, is out of keeping with other labels produced for this company and inscribed with its name. Absence of the company name here suggests that this may be a political label that employs heavy handed irony. Certainly, this appears to be its intended use by our writer.
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THE ROBITSCHEK CORRESPONDENCE PROJECT | |