Для egmg, kapahel и некоторых

[crivelli]

Christian Morgenstern
Korf's clock

Korf a kind of clock invents
where two pairs of hands go round:
one the current hour presents,
one is always backward bound.

When it's two - it's also ten;
when it's three - it's also nine.
you just look at it, and then
time gets never out of line,

for in Korf's astute invention
with its Janus-kindred stride
(wich, of course, was his intention)
time itself is nullified.

Palmstroem's clock

Palstroem's clock - a different kind -
is mimosa-like designed.

All requests are kindly heeded:
Many times the clock proceeded

at the pace that folks were urging
- slowing up or forward surging

for one hour, or two, or three,
as impelled by sympathy.

Though a timepiece, it will never
stick to petty rules, however.

Just a clockwork, slick and smart,
yet a clockwork with a heart.

(Translated from German by Max Knight)

Comments

[jolie-madame.livejournal.com]

а на каком это языке у вас моргенштерн пишет?((

На том, на котором читаем:-)

[crivelli.livejournal.com]

(Translated from German by Max Knight) - вроде бы подписано?

[sherlock7-r.livejournal.com]

I wonder if these poems are actually referring to the real inventions...

[crivelli.livejournal.com]

By Morgenstern himself:-)

[sherlock7-r.livejournal.com]

So, both Korf and Palmstroem are altogether fictional names - and persons?

[crivelli.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Palmstroem is the main character in Morgenstern's long poem called "Palmstroem".

[sherlock7-r.livejournal.com]

Pity. Those clock images are surely stirring one's imagination :-)

[crivelli.livejournal.com]

So why pity? It's precisely their purpose.

[sherlock7-r.livejournal.com]

Pity - because had the clocks been real, it would have been immeasurably more exciting - a real breakthrough in the "humans - objects" relationships.

[crivelli.livejournal.com]

After it's written everyone who wish so have an opportunity to make it real:-)