Two poems by the German poet Friedrich Hebbel, with workshop commentaries

Autumn Day

A day in autumn this, like none I’ve known!

The air is still, as if one scarcely breathed;

Yet far and near come rustling gently down

The loveliest of fruits from every tree.

Oh, think not to intrude on nature’s feast,

This is the harvest which is hers to call;

For from the branches is alone released

What rays of gentle sunlight cause to fall.

For the workshop commentary go to here

Summer Picture

I saw in flower summer’s final rose;

It looked as if it well could bleed, bright red.

I shuddered as I spoke when passing close:

So far in life’s too near to being dead.

No breath of wind stirred on that fiery day,

There only skimmed a lone white butterfly,

Yet though its beating wing scarce caused a sway

Of air, the rose still sensed this and it died.

For the workshop commentary go to here