Joachim Ringelnatz (1883-1934) was a painter, cabaret performer and writer of satirical verse. In 1933 his books were banned by the Nazis, and his writings and his paintings were declared ‘degenerate art’. He died of tuberculosis, almost destitute, in Berlin the following year. Today our translator poet Timothy Adès reprises this nonsense poem of Spring. Und es ist Tag 504 der täglich neuen Gedichte …
Spring
Joachim Ringelnatz (1883-1934)
translated from German by Timothy Adès
The trees in the stove are combusting!
From the cage, sweet song of the bird.
The sunshades are mouldering, rusting
In peace, not a sound is heard.
Asparagus-bundle exposes
Soft tips that peep out of the tin,
And real artificial roses
Weave wreaths, as Shrovetide comes in.
I’ve set the head waiter in motion
By a tinkling commotion I made:
He’ll bring all the eggs in the ocean
That Easter sturgeons have laid.
A delicate scent of Havana
Dissolves in traces of rings:
I’m tracing in my Susanna –
New Nature’s awakenings.
Love frequently, I recommend it,
What’s coming, not present or past!
… A poem of spring, and I penned it
In February’s icy blast.
Joachim Ringelnatz
trans. Timothy Adès