Nachtblume [English translation]

Night is like a still1 sea,

Desire, sorrow and love’s lament2

Come so abstrusly3 hither

Within the gentle strike of waves.4

Wishes, like clouds,

sail through still skies.

Who can tell in the mild5 wind,

Whether they are thoughts or dreams?

I close now both heart and mouth,

That so gladly lament to the stars.

But quietly in the bottom of my heart,

Remains the gentle strike of waves.

1. "still" in German, like in English, means still in action but also in sound. Thus, this word could be figuratively describing the quietude of thought in the persona’s mind.2. The word "klagen" has much more depth than the English "complain", despite this appearing as its most common translation. Here the tone warrants a more poetic vocable, so I've opted for "lament" in both its nominal and verbal form to preserve the repitition3. convoluted and therefore confusing because it cannot be easily separated4. constrastive imagery. The “schlagen” or striking of the incoming wave implies force whereas the adjective “lind” lightens that action to be of a gentle nature.5. literally a description of temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold, therefore mild and pleasant

• Artist:Qntal
• Album:Nachtblume