A new translation of Herrman Hesse’s beautiful German poem “Stufen“.

As every blossom wilts and every youth to
old age gives way, so every step of living
and every wisdom, also every virtue
Must flower in its time and can’t outlast it.
A heart must heed life’s call with no misgiving,
be ready to move on to each new inning,
not mourn the old, courageously step past it
and into what new bond that now arrives.
And there’s enchantment deep in each beginning,
that shelters us and aids us in our lives.

We shall serenely stride from place to places,
not be attached to one and call it homeland,
the spirit of the world wants us to roam and
to raise us step by wider step through spaces.
As soon as we’re familiar where we were come,
it’s cozy homelike, we’re at risk of sagging
and only those disposed to leave and stir from
Habituation can escape their flagging.

Perhaps so too our hours of death may be, they’ll
send us to realms anew in youth parading,
the call of life to us is never fading…
Godspeed my heart, take leave and fare thee well!

There were previous translations, because this poem is part of the brilliant and deservedly very famous book “The Glass Bead Game”, but I was unable to find a translation that kept the (admittedly very idiosyncratic) meter and rhyme scheme of the original. This one does!

So any song made of the original can now be sung in English without any change to the rhythm and melody; as I do with my own songs.