Bertolt Brecht Holocaust Poem: the Mask of Evil

Die Maske des Bösen (“The Mask of Evil”) by Bertolt Brecht loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A Japanese woodcarving hangs on my wall— the mask of an ancient demon, limned with golden lacquer. Not unsympathetically, I observe the forehead’s bulging veins, the tremendous strain such malevolence requires. *** Original German text: Die Maske des Bösen An meiner Wand hängt ein japanisches Holzwerk Maske eines bösen Dämons, bemalt mit Goldlack. Mitfühlend sehe ich Die geschwollenen Stirnadern, andeutend Wie anstrengend es ist, böse zu sein. Bertolt Brecht [1898-1956] was a major German poet, playwright, novelist, humorist, essayist, theater director and songwriter. Brecht fled Germany in 1933, when Hitler assumed power. A number of Brecht's poems were written from the perspective of a man who sees his country becoming increasingly fascist, xenophobic and militaristic. Keywords/Tags: Bertolt Brecht, German, translation, Holocaust, poem, war, World War II, Japanese, carving, mask, symbolism, demon, evil, malevolence, sympathy, compassion, understanding, feeling, forehead, veins, swollen, bulging, effort, strain, exhausting, concentration, suggest, suggesting, suggestive, demonstrating, revealing, showing, wall, gold, golden, lacquer, paint, woodwork, totem, malice, hate, hatred, enmity, spite, spitefulness, animosity, anger, maliciousness, malignancy, venom, spleen, viciousness