Gedichte auf Englisch - Seite 16

Great-Grandmother's Walkman

When the people had no radio, no records, no TV,
Well, where did they get their music from they liked as well as we?
There was a man who walked the streets, who went from town to town:
A real walkman, you could say; a tophat was his crown.

When he came the windows opened wide, faces popping out.
His barrel-organ played the tunes, the ballads sounding loud.
He was the hurdy-gurdy man whom everybody liked.
Nobody knew how many miles a year the fellow hiked.

He was welcome at the fairs in any village he came to,
And the people cheered his grinding-work, the children loved him, too.
His tophat put on top his organ waited to be filled.
In no time - imagine! - the audience had filled it to the hilt.

And today you rarely find an organ-grinder any more
Since so many people practise that they are themselves a bore.
Caught tightly in the pliers of their tiny walkman's phones,
They think their culture's up -to -date, but aren't they really drones?

(Aug.18th, 1984)

Heinrich Baumgarten

Won't you listen to my story? I'm a victim of TV.
All that industry can offer is alright with me, you'll see.
I'm a buyer, I'm a spender, I'm consumer number one.

Friday evening there's the last chance for buying things you never need.
I get my money, grab my basket, supermarket, here I come!
Rushing through the entrance I start overtaking everyone.

Chocolate, biscuits, cornflakes, sugar, butter, marmalade and jam;
Matches, ballpens, trousers, blazers, budgies, noodles soup and soap.
I don't need a shopping-list, oh no, friends, I know what I need:

I need ice-cream, I need raincoats, I need hats and pins and milk;
I need pianos and detergents, I need ties of wool and silk.
Don't you see that I'm in trouble? I need everything indeed.

Oh what fun it is to push the trolley full of all that stuff!
Pay attention, fellow-buyers, I'm the champion, yes, I am.
Now I'm going to use my elbows, now my job is getting tough.

Let me pass, I am the greatest, I'm consumer number one.
Here I come with three full trolleys plus three baskets. Oh what fun!
By the way, I've got to pay for all the things I've got in there.

That's no problem, I've got credit, plastic money is alright.
So you've got too little money? Well, don't worry, that's alright.
If you haven't got the money - there is money in the bank!


(June 13th, 1984)



Heinrich Baumgarten

Weihnachten, welch' schönes Fest,
das keine Wünsche offen lässt:
Weihnachtsbäume dicht an dicht,
geschmückt mit buntem Kerzenlicht.

Menschen hasten durch die Läden,
um in Eile noch für jeden
irgendein Präsent zu raffen,
um and'ren Menschen Freud' zu schaffen.

Laut tönt es aus dem Shopping-Raum:
"O Tannebaum, o Tannebaum!"
"Ach ja, den muss ich noch gleich morgen
mir aus dem Internet besorgen!"

Am Straßenrand sitzt unbeachtet
ein Mann, der draußen übernachtet.
Ein Hut liegt vor ihm auf dem Pflaster,
darin viel Luft und wenig Zaster.

Ein Kerzenstummel flackert leis'.
Er spiegelt sich im blanken Eis.
Der Mann hüllt sich in eine Decke
und kriecht in seine stille Ecke.

Vom Weihnachtsmarkt gleich gegenüber
tönt laut Musik zu ihm herüber.
Er lauscht dem Klang und flüstert sacht:
"Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!"

my life has changed
but its nothing special.

'if you want to be happy then find someone'
who is someone?

I want to find myself
and to love myself.

I was so happy to hear your voice.
Now I understand

We shouldnt do that again.
Its ruthless toward both of us.

I learned one thing
from my experience:

- dont allow yourself to feel more for him.
It will destroy you, and of course him, too.

I will loose him.
But still Im glad, because I will set him free.