Angelus Silesius translations

Angelus Silesius translations

A Poem by Michael R. Burch

Angelus Silesius Translations

The rose merely blossoms
and never asks why:
heedless of her beauty,
careless of every eye.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The rose lack reasons
and merely sways with the seasons;
she has no ego
but whoever put on such a show?
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

There is more to being rich
than merely having;
the wealthiest man can lose
everything not worth saving.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Eternity is time,
time eternity,
except when we
are determined to "see."
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Our souls possess two eyes:
one examines time,
the other visions
eternal and sublime.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

God is absolute Nothingness
beyond our sense of time and place;
the more we try to grasp Him,
The more He avoids our embrace.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Water is pure and clean
when taken at the well-head:
but drink too far from the Source
and you may well end up dead.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Unceasingly you seek
life's ceaseless wavelike motion;
I seek perpetual peace, all storms calmed.
Whose is the wiser notion?
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Man has three enemies:
himself, the world, and the devil.
Of these the first is, by far,
the most irresistible evil.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Friend, cease!
Abandon all pretense!
You must yourself become
the Writing and the Sense.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

No worm is buried
so deep within the soil
that God denies it food
as reward for its toil.
―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

New love, like a sparkling wine, soon fizzes.
Mature love, calm and serene, abides.

―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

God cannot condemn those with whom he would dwell,
or He would have to join them in hell!

―Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

A ruby
is no more magnificent
than a dirt clod,
nor an angel
more glorious
than a frog.

Angelus Silesius, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Angelus Silesius (1624-1677) was a German Catholic priest, physician, mystic and poet. Born and raised a Lutheran, he adopted the name Angelus (Latin for "angel" or "heavenly messenger") and the epithet Silesius ("Silesian") upon converting to Catholicism. He took holy orders under the Franciscans and was ordained a priest in 1661. In 1671 he retired to a Jesuit house where he remained for the rest of his life. He is now remembered chiefly for his religious poetry, and in particular for Heilige Seelenlust ("The Soul's Holy Desires"), a collection of hymn lyrics, and Cherubinischer Wandersmann ("The Cherubinic Pilgrim"), a collection of epigrams, mostly Alexandrine couplets. His poetry explores themes of mysticism, quietism, and pantheism within an orthodox Catholic context.

Keywords/Tags: Angelus Silesius, German, Translation, Epigram, Epigrams, Hymn, Hymns, Couplet, Couplets, Alexandrine, Mystic, Mysticism, Quietism, Pantheism, Priest, Angel, Jesuit, Franciscan, Monk

© 2020 Michael R. Burch


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Added on February 13, 2020
Last Updated on February 13, 2020
Tags: Angelus Silesius, German, Translation, Epigram, Epigrams, Hymn, Hymns, Couplet, Couplets, Alexandrine, Mystic, Mysticism, Quietism, Pantheism, Priest, Angel, Jesuit, Franciscan, Monk