Thursday, 15 January 2015

An interesting Piet Hein twist to 'das Gesetz nur kann uns Freiheit geben'


Freedom’s freedom to do what?
Everything you like a lot,
just as long as you make sure
not to flout a single law.

4 comments:

John Irons said...

We've been asked in the choir to print out Børge Wagner's setting of a Piet Hein Grook on freedom. I am free to publish my translation, since I I have not enfringed copyright by citing the original. I have, however, found it (and PH's own translation) on the Internet at http://tosommerfugle.blogspot.dk/2012/07/piet-hein-trste-gruk-om-frihed.html

John Irons said...

it's tempting to spell it like this:

Freedom’s freedom to do what?
Everything you like a lot,
just as long as you make shore
not to flout a single lore.

John Irons said...

what on earth does it mean, david?

John Irons said...

it looks like a brilliant translation of my translation. if scowth means freedom (or room), elbow room; gurr = courage, mettle, spirit; mind ava = always bear in mind. am i right?