Liebesgedichte

by Else Lasker-Schüler

Eine der letzten Äußerungen Else Lasker-Schülers vor ihrem Tod soll gewesen sein: "Mit mir geht es zu Ende, ich kann nicht mehr lieben." Ihr großes lyrisches Werk zeugt davon, wie mutig, wie rücksichtslos, wie unbedingt die Liebe sein kann - und wie die Liebe auch die Kunst. Für die Zeit der Liebe ist es aus mit Mittelmaß. Liebe ist für diese allem Gemäßigten abholde Dichterin das Recht und der Wunsch, jemanden so sehr zu fordern, bis er den Ansprüchen des anderen zu gleichen beginnt. Die Liebe erschafft sich den Geliebten, und keine hat das so groß- und fremdartig gekonnt wie Else Lasker-Schüler. Ihre Gedichte zeigen uns, wie sie sein kann, die Liebe, von der Einsamkeit unerwiderten Begehrens bis zu ihrem verschwenderischen Überschwang.

Genres: Poetry, German Literature, Germany, Classics

137 pages, Paperback

First published February 29, 2004

About the author

Else Lasker-Schüler was a Jewish German poet and playwright famous for her bohemian lifestyle in Berlin. She was one of the few women affiliated with the Expressionist movement. Lasker-Schüler fled Nazi Germany and lived out the rest of her life in Jerusalem.

Reviews

[cynne★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

ich fand das nachwort am besten und das sagt nicht viel gutes aus

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

A monothematic collection that probably doesn't not, as an introduction to Else Lasker-Schüler, serve as a full demostration of her talents, but which is nonetheless filled with some real gems. Her poetry is very difficult for a non-German speaker, but it's just about possible to read and enjoy. It is an older style of German but the vocabulary for her love poems stems from the same tree and it becomes easier to understand after you have cracked a few.

Most of these love poems are not merely romantic. In particular the earlier ones are bloody and almost violent in tone. Death hangs like a shadow over them, as do storms, hurt, heat, extreme weather and feelings of guilt and jealousy - the truths of love, its ups and downs and dramas. The middle section becomes more dream-like and at times almost traditionally romantic, but all of the poems share a certain restrained erotism and physicality, an obsession with kisses and body parts and an urge to touch, hold and pull at each other. "Fortissimo" is a great example of this very physical, dynamic style.

Later in the collection their are poems that depart this mould somewhat and start to use as their symbols creatures, fairy tale images, historical and mythological figures, sometimes exotic figures with give the poems a sense of movement and travel. Among these adventurous poems is one highlight, "Ein alter Tibetteppich" which unravels love's stories into the threads of a Tibbetian carpet and uses some lovely, inverted word plays which makes the most of German's ability to string words together to form long wholes, like the patterns on the rug. Another far-away highlight is "Dem Barbaren" which travels through snowy skies and over endless steppes in sweeping, romantic imagery. A real favourite, "Senna Hoy" really captures a mysterious fairy tale feel, love's intertwining with images of death and burrial, with night and dawn, with fear and angels.

When these poems hit the right note they are gorgeously, longingly romantic. "Ich träume so leise von dir-" is a beautiful, craving, questioning plea. "Als ich noch im Flügelkleide..." is a lyrical, flower strewn song of passion. "In meinem Schoss" is a love poem of real warmth and physicality. As foreign language texts, this is a challenge, but with some worthwhile moments. 4

[Mithun Samarder · Rating 5 out of 5]

ভালবাসাময় কিছু মুহুর্ত পার করেছি এই বইটা পড়ার সময়। খুব ভাললাগার অভিজ্ঞতা। শারিরীক ভাষার সাথে প্রাকৃতিক নৈবদ্য বেজে উঠেছিল যেন সেতারে। আমার আরেকটা জিনিস ভাল লেগেছে এই কবি রবীন্দ্রনাথের সমসাময়িক।

[Unbekannt · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5*

"Das Leben liegt in aller Herzen
wie in Särgen."