time for a poem

Post photo: Enjoying coffee | © Pixabay

Today it has to be a ballad. This one comes from Eduard Mörike from 1829 and fits in well with current events. “The Ghosts at Mummelsee” may not be known to everyone, but the lake itself should be well known to at least all Baden-Württemberg residents. 

The ghosts at Mummelsee

From the mountain what comes there at midnight late
with torches so magnificently?
I wonder if this is still possible for dancing and celebrating?
The songs sound so cheerful to me.
Oh no!
So tell me, what might it be?

What you see there is a funeral procession,
and what you hear are complaints.
The king, the magician, is to be pitied,
they bring him back again.
Oh dear!
So they are the ghosts of the lake!

You float down into the Mummelsee valley –
they have already entered the lake –
they do not even touch or wet the foot –
they buzz in quiet prayers –
oh look
at the coffin the shining woman!

Now the lake opens its green, reflecting gate;
Be careful, now they're diving down!
A living staircase sways forth,
and – down below the songs are humming
do you hear?
They sing him to rest below.

The waters, how beautifully they burn and glow!
They play in green fire;
the mists drift along the shore,
The pond stretches out towards the sea. –
Just be quiet!
Is nothing happening there?

It's twitching in the middle – oh heaven! oh help!
Now they're coming back, they're coming!
There is an organ in the reeds and a rattling in the rushes;
just hurry up and escape!
Davon!
They smell me, they're already catching me!

At first I thought of the more well-known “Erlkönig”, but then I decided on Eduard Mörike The ballad was also performed by Hugo Wolf set to music

Hans Jakob Christoph von Grimmelshausen was also inspired by the Mummelsee and linked it in “the adventurous Simplicissimus Teutsch” (1669) with Platos “Phaedo”.

To Socrates' It is believed that the fate of the soul after death depends on its behavior during life. A life that is as philosophical as possible helps to lead a calm attitude and a carefree death, whereas people who care less during their lifetime and do not even try to lead a "decent" life are deeply saddened and cry at the end of their own lives.