- Original Translation
Song of the Spirits on the Water by Johann Wolfgang Goethe
The soul of mankind
Is like water:
From Heaven coming,
To Heaven rising,
Again descending—
As it must—Earthward,
Ever circling.
It streams from high on
The steep rock wall,
A clear, pure stream;
Then lovingly dusts
In swelling cloud-waves
Against smooth rock;
And striking lightly,
It surges, veil-wrapped,
In whispers,
To the depths below.
Then cascading
Against cliff towers,
It foams high, raging,
Unrelenting,
To the Abyss.
In sprawling stream-beds
It creeps in meadowed valleys,
And in the glassy lake
Shows the stars mirrored
All in its visage.
Wind is the great wave,
Lovingly cooling,
Stirring the depths up
To foaming whitecaps.
O soul of mankind,
How like unto water!
O fate of mankind,
How like unto wind!
Translation © Adam Sedia
Gesang der Geister über den Wassern
By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Des Menschen Seele Gleicht dem Wasser: Vom Himmel kommt es, Zum Himmel steigt es,
Und wieder nieder
Zur Erde muß es, Ewig wechselnd. Strömt von der hohen, Steilen Felswand
Der reine Strahl,
Dann stäubt er lieblich In Wolkenwellen Zum glatten Fels, Und leicht empfangen
Wallt er verschleyernd,
Leisrauschend, Zur Tiefe nieder. Ragen Klippen Dem Sturze entgegen,
Schäumt er unmuthig
Stufenweise Zum Abgrund. Im flachen Bette Schleicht er das Wiesenthal hin,
Und in dem glatten See
Weiden ihr Antlitz Alle Gestirne. Wind ist der Welle Lieblicher Buhler;
Wind mischt vom Grund aus
Schäumende Wogen. Seele des Menschen, Wie gleichst du dem Wasser! Schicksal des Menschen.
Wie gleichst du dem Wind!
Adam Sedia (b. 1984) lives in his native Indiana, where he practices as a civil and appellate litigation attorney. His poems have appeared in print and online publications, and he has published two volumes of poetry: The Spring's Autumn (2013) and Inquietude (2016). He also composes music, which may be heard on his YouTube channel. He lives with his wife, Ivana, their two children.