The Violin of the Bushman

The Violin of the Bushman

Weak
is resonance of the sound
a one stringed bent stick
on an empty
ostrich egg. 
Not an instrument for greater glory
of whoever.
Nobody else hears
what the bushman fiddles
in the steppe wind – 
a pair of bow strokes long
to his own astonishment
hearing himself.

Frail
is the resonance of the sound
a one-stringed bent stick
on an empty
ostrich egg. 
Not an instrument for greater glory
of whomever.
Nobody else hears
what the bushman fiddles
in the outback wind— 
a pair of long bow strokes—
to his own astonishment,

hearing himself.

Rainer Malkowski (Germany 1932-2003)
Translation: Germain Droogenbroodt – Stanley H. Barkan

***

Die Buschmanngeige//Schwach/ist der Resonanzkörper/auf den einsaitigen Krummstock/ein leeres/Straußenei./Also kein Instrument für den Beifall./Vielleicht kein Instrument/für höheren Ruhm/von irgendwem./Niemand sonst hört/was der Buschmann geigt/im Steppenwind -/ein Paar Bogenzüge lang/sich selbst/zum Erstaunen/vernehmlich