Das Rosenband Im Frühlingsschatten fand ich sie; Da band ich sie mit Rosenbändern: Sie fühlt' es nicht, und schlummerte. Ich sah sie an; mein Leben hing Mit diesem Blick' an ihrem Leben: Ich fühlt' es wohl, und wußt' es nicht. Doch lispelt' ich ihr sprachlos zu, Und rauschte mit den Rosenbändern: Da wachte sie vom Schlummer auf. Sie sah mich an; ihr Leben hing Mit diesem Blick' an meinem Leben, Und um uns ward's Elysium.

The Chain of Roses In the shadow of springtime I found her and bound her with ribbons of roses. She did not feel them and slept on. I looked at her; my life hung by this look on her life; I felt it well and knew it not. But wordlessly I whispered and rustled the rosy ribbons; so she awoke from her sleep. She looked at me; her life hung by this look on my life. And around us there was Elysium.

In approaching this poem you might like to consider the following questions:

* How many individuals are involved in this poem (including the narrative voice or 'Ich' reciting it)?

* What is the 'action' of this poem? What events occur? (they might be quite simple)

* What kind of 'love' is being described in this poem? Fleeting momentary desire, or something longer term? Why do you say this?

* Which patterns of repeated words and images do you find in the poem? Does this have any effect on us as readers/ listeners?

* Why does Goethe chose to write about love in terms of a ribbon? And what does this 'ribbon' mean?

Performed by Christian Wewerka