This page has emigrated … Click here to follow.
You will find my translations into English together with the original poems in German on my new blog. I hope you will enjoy reading them there, and in some cases listening to them.
Posts on this blog that refer to my thoughts on the subject have now been grouped into the category Nelly Sachs, and can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate cloud.
catterel 
Hi Catterel,
I tried to post this comment on your Nelly Sachs blog, but encountered some difficulties! Hopefully it works here.
These are beautiful translations of Nelly Sachs’ work- thank you so much for bringing this into the world. I feel very fortunate to have found your blog!!
I am a 25-year old German studies student in Canada, and am particularly drawn to pre-war and post-war German-Jewish writing. As a hobby during these strange pandemic times I have been drawing cover art for some of my favourite works of literature. I also occasionally illustrate poems, oftentimes Nelly Sachs and Paul Celan.
I would like to create a cohesive anthology of Nelly Sachs’ poetry that include illustrations of each poem, and would like to ask your permission to include your translations alongside each drawing. It is just a little project to occupy my time, and perhaps I would print some copies to send to family and friends (and you, of course!).
May I use your translations? I think you do a wonderful job of capturing the dream-like, haunting feeling that Nelly Sachs’ poetry creates. I would obviously include a lovely write-up crediting you in the compilation.
If you would like to talk more about this, you can email me at: siv_br@hotmail.com
Best,
Sivan
Thank you Sivan. I have replied to you by e.mail.
Dear Catterel — I would like permission to read aloud your translation of Chorus of the Saved by Nellie Sachs at an upcoming Holocaust memorial event at my college this coming March. My email address is esulli24@montgomerycollege.edu. Thank you.
Certainly Ellen. Please give me credit as the translator and I wish you an impactful presentation.
Hi Catterel, I am searching for a poem by Nelly Sachs about the biblical patriarch Abraham. Bruce Feiler mentions it in his book, “Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths” but I can’t seem to locate the poem. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Tzivia, I imagine this probably refers to this poem, which I haven’t yet translated so can only give you in German:
Nun hat Abraham die Wurzel der Winde gefasst;
denn heimkehren wird Israel aus der Zerstreuung.
Eingesammelt hat es Wunden und Martern
auf den Höfen der Welt,
abgeweint alle verschlossenen Türen.
Seine A Iten, den Erdenkleidern fast entwachsen
und wie Meerpflanzen die Glieder streckend,
einbalsamiert im Salze der Verzweiflung
und die Klagemauer Nacht im Arm —
werden noch einen kleinen Schlaf tun —
Aber die Jungen haben die Sehnsuchtsfahne entfaltet;
denn ein Acker will von ihnen geliebt sein
und eine Wüste getränkt
und nach der Sonnenseite Gott
sollen die Häuser gebaut werden,
und der Abend hat wieder das veilchenscheue Wort,
das nur in der Heimat so blau bereitet wird:
Gute Nacht!
Nelly Sachs
– I hope this helps you.
This can be found in her collection “Fahrt ins Staublose”
It could also be this:
O du / der die Sehnsucht an den Horizont der unsichtbaren Himmel / heftete / die Engel in die Länder der Nacht berief – / die Beete der Träume bereitete / für die Schar der sich übersteigenden Propheten – ”: Sachs, Abraham. In: Sachs, Fahrt ins Staublose, S. 88
Dear Catterel,
could you please contact me concerning a permission for using a translation.
With kind regards
Nicole
Dear Nicole, I hope you have received my e-mail.