Ballade des Vergessens
Klabund [Alfred Henschke]| Original | English Translation |
| BALLADE DES VERGESSENS In den Lüften schreien die Geier schon lüstern nach neuem Aase. Es hebt so mancher die Leier schon beim freibiergefüllten Glase, zu schlage siegreich den altbösen Feind, tät er den Humpen pressen … Habt Ihr die Tränen, die Ihr geweint, vergessen, vergessen, vergessen? Habt Ihr vergessen, was man Euch tat, des Mordes Dengeln und Mähen? Es läßt sich bei Gott der Geschichte Rad, beim Teufel nicht rückwärts drehen. Dein Sohn, der im Graben, im Grabe schrie nach Dir, von Würmern zerfressen … Mutter, Mutter, Du sollst es nie, Du sollst es niemals vergessen! Millionen krepierten in diesem Krieg, den nur ein paar Dutzend gewannen. Sie schlichen nach ihrem teuflischen Sieg mit vollen Säcken von dannen. Im Hauptquartier bei Wein und Sekt Tät Mancher sein Liebchen pressen. An der Front lag der Kerl, verlaust und verdreckt, vergessen, vergessen, vergessen. Es blühte noch nach dem Kriege der Mord, es war eine Lust, zu knallen. Es zeigte in diesem traurigen Sport sich Deutschland über Allen. Ein jeder Schurke hielt Gericht, die Erde mit Blut zu nässen. Deutschland, du sollst die Ermordeten nicht und niemals die Mörder vergessen! (Vergaßt Ihr die gute alte Zeit, die schlechteste je im Lande? Euer Herrscher hieß Narr, seine Tochter Leid, die Hofherren Feigheit und Schande. Er führte Euch in den Untergang vom Größenwahn besessen. Längst habt Ihr 's bei Wein, Weib und Gesang vergessen, vergessen, vergessen.) Der neue Krieg kommt anders daher, als Ihr ihn Euch geträumt noch. Er kommt nicht mit Säbel und Gewehr, zu heldischer Geste gebäumt noch; Und wer die Lanze zum Himmel streckt, sich mit wehenden Winden zu messen, - der ist in einer Sekunde verreckt, vergessen, vergessen, vergessen. (Ihr heult von der Kriegs- und Friedensschuld der Andern – Ihr wollt Euch rächen. Woher nehmt Ihr den frechen Mut, von Schuld und Sühne Euch freizusprechen? Sieh Deine Fratze im Spiegel hier von Haß und Raffgier besessen: Du hast, war je eine Seele in Dir, sie vergessen, vergessen, vergessen.) Ihr hetzt zum Krieg, zum frischfröhlichen Krieg, und treibt die Toren zu Paaren. Ihr werdet nur einen einzigen Sieg: den Sieg des Todes gewahren. Zu Spät ist’s dann, von der Erde zu fliehn mit etwa himmlischen Pässen. Gott hat Euch aus seinem Munde gespien, Gott hat Euch auf ewig vergessen! | THE BALLAD OF THE FORGOTTEN From the skies above, the vultures cry In their lust for carrion flesh. Filled with free beer, the ones down here, Take up that song afresh. "To Victory!, Smash the evil foe!” The tankards crash like cannon Have you the bitter tears that flow, Forgotten forgotten forgotten? Do you forget what was done to you? By Murder’s scythe mown down. The wheel of time cannot, - By God, -Or the Devil -, backwards turn. The General who lost both the war and his nerve, Still carries his braid and his baton, His defeats are in glory and splendour revered, But you have all forgotten Have you forgotten those glorious years, The worst that ever came. Your master was Madness, his daughter, Tears, His henchmen were Cowardice and Shame. Into defeat they led you on, With earnest entreaties, with mocking, Long since have you, with wine, women and song Forgotten forgotten forgotten. We have shamed both God and Fatherland, With mouths filled with venom and loathing. As we have too, with filthy hands, Changed meanings, - as lightly as clothing. No word remains now that is honest and true, Only lies that no measure can reckon, And the meaning of truth we have through-and-through, Forgotten forgotten forgotten. Millions perished in this war, That profited but a few dozen, They creep away from the hellish affair, With wallets and pockets bulging. Back at headquarters they have wine and champagne, -And their sweethearts, -far from the cannon, At the front lie the men in the filth and the rain, Forgotten forgotten forgotten. And after the war, then murder came, And shooting was but jest, And Germany showed, in this sad game, She stands above the rest. And the right was claimed by every rogue To drench the land in sorrow O Germany, the murdered never should, Nor the murderer-, be forgotten.! O, mother, you sacrificed your son, To army regulations, Arriving at the throne of God He demands your explanation. Your son, from the grave, as he did from his trench Cries for you.- Now by worms he is eaten Oh Mother, Mother let this never be Forgotten forgotten forgotten ! You came off worst in war and peace And now you want revenge Have you the bare-faced cheek to speak As if free from guilt and sins? Look at your face in the mirror here Full of envy and hatred,- rotten, That you still have a soul in there- Forgotten forgotten forgotten Once, making war was a chivalrous trade, When Frederick met Sweden in battle, With banners aloft in a splendid parade Not herded through mud like the cattle. What counted in fighting was head against head, “Man against man“ was the motto, Now the scientist opens a valve, And the heroes are forgotten. This new war will come in different forms Inconceivable and countless It comes no more with sabres and guns, Chivalrous gestures are useless It comes with poisons and gasses unseen Brewed in the devil's own kitchen. This time the war will not easily be Forgotten forgotten forgotten You drummers drum!. Let trumpets blast! No more factions now, just corpses. Berlin and Paris and Munich are gassed, Above them wheel the vultures. Whoever should offer his lance to the sky To challenge the winds of poison. Within an hour, like vermin must die Forgotten forgotten forgotten No shot was fired, yet stiff and cold, The gunners lie dead at their posts, No womenfolk stir in the dawn’s red-gold, The children lie dead in their cots. In Potsdamer Platz had been song and applause, Volunteers from Bayern and Hessen A yellow cloud comes: there are no more hurrahs They are evermore forgotten. You fight against demons that no-one can see, Bacilli have no fear of heroes. For you there will be no Niblungslied As you leave this vale of sorrows. Too late is it now to depart this life With hope of a welcome in Heaven God has spat you out of His mouth, And forgotten forgotten forgotten You stirred up the war, the jolly-old-war, And marched off to the gates side by side, There remains to you now just one victory more; That the victory of Death be denied. Ignored and abandonded were those who cried out, To beseech the return of your reason, But Christ will not, on His return, Allow that to be forgotten. klabund |
