31. Dich / You by Erich Fried - A Friend To Katharine
In this episode, Katharine talks about the poem that has been a friend to her – ‘Dich’ / ‘You’ by Erich Fried.We are delighted to feature ‘Dich’ / ‘You’ in this episode and would like to thank Verlag Klaus Wagenbach for allowing us to use it in this way.Katharine visited The Poetry Exchange at St Chad's College Chapel in Durham, during Durham Book Festival, in association with Durham University Foundation Programme. We’re very grateful to all our Durham partners for hosting us so warmly.Katharine is in conversation with The Poetry Exchange team members, Michael Shaeffer and Andrea Witzke-Slot.‘Dich’ / ‘You' is read by Michael Shaeffer.*****Dich By Eric FriedDichdich sein lassenganz dichSehen, daß du nur du bistwenn du alles bistwas du bistdas Zarteund das Wildedas was sich anschmiegenund das was sich loßreißen willWer nur die Hälfte liebtder liebt dich nicht halbsondern gar nichtder will dich zurechtschneidenamputierenverstümmelnDich dich sein lassenob das schwer oder leicht ist?Es kommt nicht darauf an mit wievielVorbedacht und Verstandsondern mit wieviel Liebe und mit wievieloffener Sehnsucht nach allem – nach allemwas du istNach der Wärme und nach der Kältenach der Güte und nach dem Starrsinnnach deinem Willenund Unwillennach jeder deiner Gebärdennach deiner UngebärdigkeitUnstetigkeitStetigkeitDann ist diesesdich dich sein lassenvielleichtgar nicht so schwer‘Dich’ by Erich Fried from 'Es ist was es ist’ © 1983 Verlag Klaus Wagenbach, Berlin*********Below is a translation of the poem, published in ‘Love Poems’ by Erich Fried, trans. Stuart Hood, available from Alma Classics. YouBy Erich FriedYouto let you be youall you To seethat you are only youwhen you’re everythingthat you arethe tender oneand the wild onethat wants to break freeand wants to come close Whoever loves the halfloves you not by halfbut not at allwants to cut you to sizeto amputateto maim you To let you be youis it hard or easy?It’s not a matter of how muchforethought and understandingbut of how much love and how muchopen longing for everything –for allthat is you For the warmthand the coldnessfor the goodnessand obstinacyfor your wilfulnessand unwillingnessfor each of your gesturesfor your awkwardnessinconstancyconstancy Then thisletting you be youmaybe isn’t so difficultafter allFried, Erich. Love Poems (Alma Classics)The extract about translation quoted by Fiona on the Intro to this episode is from Kiki Dimoula’s book The Brazen Plagiarist, selected poems translated by Cecile Inglessis Margellos and Rika Lesser published by Yale University Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.