A Night On A Beach

translated and adapted from Heinrich Heine

Starless and cold the night : the sea foams;

flatly over the waves the changed north wind

tells a story.  A stranger moves along the beach

to a hut. There the fisherman`s daughter warms

tea for her father, who is alone on the high seas.

I have kept my promise.

It is time for the gods to return.

Sternlos und kalt ist die Nacht.

Author's Note

I don`t expect anybody will read this ; but I enjoyed writing it.

Reviews

[Becky C Strukamp]

I enjoyed reading it very much. A very serene picture painted here. I love the sea! thakns for very soothing write.

[Tina Kline]

This is a truly wonderful poem. Its beautiful, rather soothing and has a sense of destiny. Very enjoyable.

[Ken Simm.]

And I really enjoyed reading this. It is truly lovely. Standing by the sea, sighing and longingly.

[Nona]

wonderful translation! your use of language is strategic but so accurate! the poetic magic is just there! like!!!!

[An owl on the moon]

How I needed to spend time again on a beach.. been too long... Your vision creates a pensive mood set in the darkness... starless and cold.. yes. Leistungsstarke Poesie.

[quinfinn]

i enjoyed this write very much! and my limited knowledge of German tells me something about "and cold is the night"...wonderful!

[Coyote Song]

Another very captivating poem, giving the readers a glimse into two people's lives. We can't help but wonder about them and maybe be envious their life style there living on the beach. Beautiful and enchanting.

[Salar Majak]

Sternlos und kalt ist die Nacht. what does that mean? and by the way i really enjoyed this!!!! really did :) nice write :)

[Icelanna]

Very nice. Although in the first sentence I wouldn't use the ":" that symbol usually means to describe something specific before it , such as "Steven: Tall, blonde etc" To me it doesn't fit quite right by there. Secondly I don't think the ";" is in the right place, put it where the ":" is and leave out the ";" at the end of the first sentence, if the waves are flat you don't need a longer break to describe it, it can fit into one. Those symbols are usually used as an after comment such as "he says quietly; but I can't help but wonder..."
Thirdly, the "the changed north wind" bit doesn't sound right. Either cut it into two sentences or use a ";" such as "over the waves; the changed wind..." It'll make it fit better.
Hope this helps.
Love to you x

[Ufi Auttorri ~ Amy C. T..]

Who is this stranger? Is the daughter of the fisherman alone in the hut as she warms tea for her father? Who made what promise? The mood is excellent and imagery is classic and so works too. There's a mystery in here and I'm just not getting it... but I like the poem. Thank you!