Friday, August 27, 2010

From Karl Kraus

One asks not, what I do all the time.
I stay quiet;
and don't say why.
And there was quiet, there the Earth cracked.
It met no word.
One only speaks out of Sleep.
And dreams of a sun, which laughs.
It goes on;
After it was ennuyant.
The word passed on, as that world awoke.

--

I only am one of the Epigones
Who in the ancient house of language dwells.

But I have therein my own experiences,
I break out and I'm leaving Thebes in pieces.

Should I also come to ancient Masters, later,
So shall I rage the bloody knack of fathers.

Of vengeance speak I, I avenging language
Of all those, those who are language speakers.

I'm Epigone, the ancientworthy(ies?) elder.
But you, be the knowing Theban chorus!

--

Language controlling? That's right to me;
If one only speaks loudly, at the same time is it still?
So I control the language, that you speak
that my might may with me, what it will!