3 translations by Maxine Chernoff

***

PALMSTROM
by Christian Morgenstern

Palmstrom stands at a pond
and unfolds a huge red handkerchief.
In the hankie is an acorn.
He displays it like a man holds a book.

Palmstrom doesn't dare blow his nose in it.
He is one of those strange fellows
Who often suddenly affect
That open reverence for beauty.

Tenderly he folds together
What he only now spread out.
No feeling person would condemn him
Because he walks away without blowing his nose.

***




***

THE HEN
by Christian Morgenstern

Although not made for it,
A hen struts into the train station wating room.
Here and there. . .
Where, where is the station-master?
Won't someone do something with the hen?
Let's hope so.  Let's say openly
That our sympathy goes out to it,
Even in this place, where it upsets things.

***




***

AT DAYBREAK
by Karl Krolow

Moon reaped from morning.

Light approaches
the eyelids in blue scarves.
Beneath open shirts,
never so much sky.

Bird calls in every throat.

Time for the dead
at the window
to forget death.

***