Monday, August 6, 2012

Sehnsucht

R.A.D. Stainforth brings my words to life
with a rare smile...




A Dinner Table at Night, 1884, John Singer Sargent
I expect you,
with omnipresence;

the knowing of it
deepens the ache.

My name tastes intense
in your voice;

every syllable opens new,
like the first time.

We carry each other 
to a keen point of view,

a wild exchange

of generosity, 
on the sly.



48 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Tess!

    My favorite Sehnsucht poem in German is by the old master Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

    Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt ...

    Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt,
    Weiß, was ich leide!
    Allein und abgetrennt
    Von aller Freude,
    Seh´ ich ans Firmament
    Nach jener Seite.
    Ach! der mich liebt und kennt,
    Ist in der Weite.
    Es schwindelt mir, es brennt
    Mein Eingeweide.
    Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt,
    Weiß, was ich leide

    ReplyDelete
  2. My fav lines:

    the knowing of it
    deepens the ache.

    My name tastes intense
    in your voice;

    R.A.D. reading your words always make it a unique experience, specially when he smiles ~

    ReplyDelete
  3. of course no idea what Sehnsucht means but the poem is exquisite. My name tastes intense in your voice. how beautiful. a fine love poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sehnsucht is one of those German words with layers of meaning that the English "longing" or "yearning" can only hint at ... a deep and intense feeling of something missing ... something you once had or never had ... an emptiness ... a craving ... a desire ... a spiritual, psychological, almost physical need ... that's Sehnsucht ...

      Delete
    2. Perfectly defined, R.A.D. We don't have a similar word in English.

      Delete
  4. Wikipedia offers this "accurate" English translation of "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" ( "Only he who knows what yearning is"):

    Only one who knows longing
    Understands what I suffer!
    Alone and separated
    From all joy,
    I look to the heavens
    Towards the other side.
    Oh! the one who loves and knows me,
    Is far away.
    I feel dizzy, and it burns
    my insides.
    Only one who knows longing
    Understands what I suffer!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Generosity on the sly is a naughty and exciting thing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So much story in so few words and a sigh for the dark beauty of your poem.

    ReplyDelete
  7. absolutely love the title tess...and these lines...

    My name tastes intense
    in your voice;

    every syllable opens new,
    like the first time

    are set perfect...so much inbetween them...smiles..

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like the way Teresa describes it, " dark beauty", so full of aching, achtung baby

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the build up to the unanticipated end!

    ReplyDelete
  10. beautiful poem Tess....thanks to R A D for the explanation of Sehnsucht..

    ReplyDelete
  11. One can feel the longing in your words. Love the Sargent painting.

    ReplyDelete
  12. it was dripping with sensuality before I listened to the reading, then if just poured

    ReplyDelete
  13. My name tastes intense in your voice---love that line. Listening to the reading brings the intimacy to life...beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great poem and a truly shy smile by RS.

    ReplyDelete
  15. How intense..a good way to fall in love...well done!

    ReplyDelete
  16. generosity on the sly, now that's subtext!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Woohoo, really intense. Glad I visited!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I really think 'my name tastes intense in your voice' is itself a very intense and great aspect of this poem! It really stands out and moves me forward with the story of the poem!

    ReplyDelete
  19. described as similar to the portuguese word saudade
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYY8GJ-i0I

    ReplyDelete
  20. as tasty a poem as you will find this side of the Mississippi
    or the other side
    or south of the great lakes
    or north of the gulf of Mexico
    or the cape of good hope or the horn one

    briny, definitely briny,
    the intense flavor opening
    like every new syllable
    grass leaves
    white painted picket fences
    America Ohio New Caledonia
    Cappuccino
    is it soup.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Loved it all, but especially this line:

    every syllable opens new,
    like the first time

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  22. oooh whooooohooooo. This conjures up some raptures in my mind!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Generosity on the sly- fun, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  24. R.A.Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! He makes great poetry even sexier, non?

    ReplyDelete
  25. not unlike the Portuguese 'saudade', sehnsucht...
    & interesting timing this, I recently wrote a sehnsucht poem (but haven't posted it) - I like yours very much

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well this has been an education. Thank you all so much.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ah, the smile! My German roots embraced, coiled around every word!

    ReplyDelete
  28. My name tastes intense in your voice, so deeply touches a mesmerizing love of one (mine) long ago, but lost....and yet, never forgotten. So completely delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  29. That was a luscious poem and a fine reading. I just managed to catch R A D Satinforth's smile. Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  30. He times that smile perfectly! Just love the ending.

    ReplyDelete
  31. A spot on title for your post, I must say - and thanks to the German/English comments, too...

    ReplyDelete
  32. sublime poem. such an economy of language that casts a spell.
    love: ...every sllyable opens anew like the first time.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Generosity on the sly - but certainly! Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wonderful language and flow. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  35. and so you do. the word and the voice. on the sly

    ReplyDelete
  36. Vividly expressed, Tess. 'The knowing of it deepens the ache.' Yep. Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem and the German idea of Sehnsucht, which is new for me. =D

    ReplyDelete
  37. Dearest readers, thank you for taking the time, not only to read my words, but to leave kind comments, as well. It's so much fun to share my stuff with you. And thank you, R.A.D., for breathing life into my words.

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)