Among twenty snowy mountains, The only moving thing Was the eye of the blackbird
13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird
Song Cycle by Peggy Glanville-Hicks (1912 - 1990)
Translated to:
French (Français) — 13 façons de regarder un merle (Guy Laffaille)
German (Deutsch) — Dreizehn Weisen eine Amsel zu betrachten (Bertram Kottmann)
1. Among twenty snowy mountains  [sung text not yet checked]
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 1, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
2. I was of three minds  [sung text not yet checked]
I was of three minds. Like a tree In which there are three blackbirds.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 2, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
3. The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds  [sung text not yet checked]
The blackbird whirled in the autumn winds. It was a small part of the pantomime.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 3, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
4. A man and a woman  [sung text not yet checked]
A man and a woman Are one. A man and a woman and a blackbird Are one.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 4, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
5. I do not know which to prefer  [sung text not yet checked]
I do not know which to prefer, The beauty of inflections Or the beauty of innuendoes, The blackbird whistling Or just after.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 5, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
6. Icicles filled the long window  [sung text not yet checked]
Icicles filled the long window With barbaric glass. The shadow of the blackbird Crossed it, to and fro. The mood Traced in the shadow An indecipherable cause.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 6, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
7. O thin men of Haddam  [sung text not yet checked]
O thin men of Haddam, Why do you imagine golden birds? Do you not see how the blackbird Walks around the feet Of the women about you?
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 7, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
8. I know noble accents  [sung text not yet checked]
I know noble accents And lucid, inescapable rhythms; But I know, too, That the blackbird is involved In what I know.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 8, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
9. When the blackbird flew out of sight  [sung text not yet checked]
When the blackbird flew out of sight It marked the edge Of one of many circles.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 9, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
10. At the sight of blackbirds  [sung text not yet checked]
At the sight of blackbirds Flying in the green light, Even the bawds of euphony Would cry out sharply.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 10, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
11. He rode over Connecticut  [sung text not yet checked]
He rode over Connecticut In a glass coach. Once, a fear pierced him, In that he mistook The shadow of his equipage For Blackbirds.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 11, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
12. The river is moving  [sung text not yet checked]
The river is moving. The blackbirds must be flying.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 12, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
13. It was evening all afternoon  [sung text not yet checked]
It was evening all afternoon. It was snowing And it was going to snow. The blackbirds sat In the cedar-limbs.
Authorship:
- by Wallace Stevens (1879 - 1955), appears in Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, no. 13, first published 1917
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission