At a glance (glimpse)
To the average tourist
the wall is (was) the divide
between east and west
Checkpoint Charlie
the obvious choice
point of reference
almost irreverent
in its poignancy
To see the cultural divisions
needs close obs, more diligence
The guest workers from the east
restless from centuries of abuse
and ethnic cleansing
abrade against western ways
I hate you, I don't know why
I hate you but I do
surfaces at night and
the policing of this only adds to this
increases the tension
The Ufer bars, the nightclub
under counter guns and hand outs
of pills that could kill and do your intellect
are all part of this
In a harmonious kind of way
this melds and mashes and makes up
what is Berlin
a very lovable and culturally
diverse city.
Categories:
ufer, angst, appreciation, art, beauty,
Form: Free verse
Grünes Paradies
Am Seitenarm der Mandau
Neben der Strasse
Helles Vogelgezwitscher
Aus den Sträuchern am Ufer
---------------------------------
Green paradise
At a side arm of the Mandau
So close by the street
Bright bird's twitter
From the shrubs at the shore
---------------------------------
Verde paraíso
Al ramal del Río Mandau
Cerca de la calle
Cantos vivos de pájaros
De los arbustos en la orilla
Categories:
ufer, animals
Form: Tanka
Fallen im Wind
wenn der Herbst sie müde macht am Baume.
Durchsichtig, wie Stücke aus Glas,
ruhen sie am Ufer des Flusses,
haben ihre eigene Sprache.
Und, wie die Nachtigall ihre Lieder dem Wind anvertraut,
so erzählen die Blätter ihre Legenden den Wäldern.
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Falling with the winds
if autumn makes them tired in the tree.
Transparent, like pieces of glass,
when they rest on the shore of the river.
They have their own language.
And like the nightingale entrusts her songs to the wind,
the leaves take their legends to the woods.
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Caen con el viento,
cuando el otoño les decansen en el árbol.
Transparente, como piezas de vidrio,
reposen en las orillas del río,
tienen su propio idioma.
Y, como el ruiseñor confie sus canciones al viento,
así cuentan las Hojas sus leyendas a los bosques.
Categories:
ufer, autumn,
Form: Prose Poetry
Im tiefen Flug
Herrlich leuchtendes Gefieder
Ein junger Grünspecht
Im hohen alten Lindenbaum
Am günen Ufer der Mandau
------------------------------------------
In its deep flight
With splendid bright plumage
A young Green Woodpecker
At a tall old linden tree
Near the green banks of the Mandau
------------------------------------------
En su vuelo rasante
Con maravilloso brillante plumaje
Un joven carpintero verde
En un tilo viejo y alto
Cerca de orillas verdes del Mandau
Categories:
ufer, animalsgreen,
Form: Tanka
Am Ufer des Flusses
Bevor die Sonne erlischt
Nur leichtes Gurgeln
--------------------------------
At the river banks
Before the sun finally sets
Only a slight gurgle
-------------------------------
A orillas del río
Antes que el sol desaparece
Sólo ligero gorgoteo
__________________________
Nur eine alte Eiche
Da hinter der Wegbiegung
Trotzte dem letzen Sturm
------------------------------------
Only an old oak tree
There behind the road bend
Defied the last storm
-------------------------------------
Sólo un viejo roble
Detrás de la revuelta del camino
Desafió la última tormenta
Categories:
ufer, nature
Form: Haiku
Endlos und überwachsend, der Urwald,
immergrün,
über dem dunklen Wasser,
Krokodile im Abendlicht,
tauchen auf
und verschwinden am Ufer.
Nebel,
der wie ein zartes Gespinst über dem Wasser liegt,
nährt das Grün des Waldes,
lässt es erblühn,
aus dem Dunkel,
Licht aus der Einsamkeit geboren.
Nur manchmal,
dort wo eine Lichtung den Wald vertrieben hat,
ragen Hütten auf,
fast vom Wald verschlungen.
Einsame Einbäume zeugen von Leben.
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Vast and overgrown, the jungle,
rainforest,
crocodiles appear at the surface of the river,
at nightfall,
and disappear near the banks.
Mist,
covering the water like a fine-spun web,
nurish the forest green,
makes it flower,
from the dark,
Light born from loneliness.
Only some times,
there, where a clearing has expelled the jungle,
some huts stand out,
nearly swallowed by the trees.
Solitary canoes prove life.
Categories:
ufer, nature
Form: Verse