The Elder Tree

Elder trees are magical trees, protective guardians and sometimes portals to the otherworld. I had one in my garden until recently – it was a beautiful tree.

The poem ‘The Elder Tree’ was written by me in 2020. At that time, the novella ‘Der Goldne Topf’ by E. T. A. Hoffmann was being studied in my German literature course, and I was inspired by the vision of the protagonist Anselmus, who has his first encounter with the magical world under an elderberry bush.

My poem is now also available in a song version. A video is to follow.

That’s the evening sun, which plays in me
Which peals like a bell with blue eyes.
Fairy-tale snakes that bask in the branches
Like golden green emeralds
And sound like distant flutes
At Beltaine.

You lay dreaming in my shadow,
My scent surrounded you,
But you did not understand me.

I caressed your curls, tickling your chin,
I played around your temple tenderly,
But you did not understand me.

Breath is my language
When love solemnly lights it.
Like sunbeams broke through the clouds,
The inner light in words, blossoming:
I poured gold around you, precious sparkling,
But you did not understand me.

That’s the evening sun, which plays with me,
You said, a springtime breeze and some birds,
Which sounds like bells, rustling blue rye.

Embers are my language when they ignite love,
I whispered softly to your heart,
But you did not understand me,
You didn’t understand me.

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