The Town, 1852

Original version (German):

“Die Stadt, 1852” by Theodor Storm

Am grauen Strand, am grauen Meer
Und seitab liegt die Stadt;
Der Nebel drückt die Dächer schwer,
Und durch die Stille braust das Meer
Eintönig um die Stadt.

Es rauscht kein Wald, es schlägt im Mai
Kein Vogel ohn Unterlaß;
Die Wandergans mit hartem Schrei
Nur fliegt in Herbstesnacht vorbei,
Am Strande weht das Gras.

Doch hängt mein ganzes Herz an dir,
Du graue Stadt am Meer;
Der Jugend Zauber für und für
Ruht lächelnd doch auf dir, auf dir,
Du graue Stadt am Meer.

English version:

“The Town, 1852” translated by Raymond Youngs

By the grey strand, by the grey sea -
And near it lies the town -
Mist on the roofs lies heavily
And in the stillness churns the sea
Ceaseless towards the town.

No forests rustle in the wind,
No bird sings in this land,
But wandering geese in passing flight
Call harshly in the autumn night.
The reeds wave on the strand.

And yet my whole heart clings to you:
My grey town by the sea
Youth’s magic mem’ries that I knew
Smile on you, fill you, through and through
My grey town by the sea.

Commentary:

Theodor Storm (1817-1888) was a German novelist who was born in the Danish coastal town of Husum (the town which is the subject of this poem) and returned to it later in life when it had become part of Germany. His most famous novel was Der Schimmelreiter (The Rider on the White Horse). This poem is iconic: after writing this translation of it I discovered that the entry for Storm in the English version of Wikipedia contains the poem in German along with an English translation. I have used repetition rather than rhyme in verses 1 and 3 to preserve the spirit of the original poem.