Möwenlied

This is perhaps a bit of a random blog post but it has happened because of something I came across while I was clearing out my room.

 

This is a poem written out for me by my Grandmother. I have no memory of when I was given this but I thought I'd share it. My Granny has been dead for a few years now so it was wonderful to find this. She was born in England but both of her parents were German meaning she was a fluent speaker of the language. The card that this poem was inside had this poem written out in both languages and my name on the front. I think the English version is her translation as it differs from where I've found it online (for example, here).

She had a great love of languages and worked as a teacher and a translator at various stages. Her groaning bookshelves were in the obvious English and German but also, Italian, Spanish and Latin. She was an incredibly intelligent and vibrant lady. It made me sad that a large part of what I know about her, I only discovered from her friends at her funeral. I'm incredibly happy to have found her old gift to me and I feel that she is a woman who warrants a little celebration. So here then is her translation of Möwenlied or Song of Seagulls.

 I'm not normally a huge fan of seagulls but in this case I'm happy to hear they look like Emmas. Thank you Granny.