Notes on life, art, photography and technology, by a Danish dropout bohemian.
When you drink the water, remember the river.
▼
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Quiet night
I've just been to the postbox, and then took a short walk, because it turns out it's something rare here: a totally wind-less night. Beautiful. (Is there a word for no wind at all?)
Walking in a windless night is a bit like walking “in the gloaming,” an archaic English term used by poets to describe a still twilight. Appears in the old Irish folk song ‘Bantry Bay’ as follows:
“As I'm sitting all alone in the gloaming The shadows of the past draw near; And I see the lovely faces all around me That used to glad the old front pier...”
The Germans have a nice word for it : "FLAUTE" It's been borrowed to my native Polish as well, meaning "no wind at sea". Wiki says "no wind" goes up to 0.2 mps by the way :)
"SZTIL" is another nice name I've seen. This one also sounds germanic (Dutch perhaps?)
I think "SZTIL" is the same as "still" in German. My English dictionary translates it into: silent, quiet, calm, still (funny, same in English).
There is a famous poem in German, like
"Über allen Wipfeln ist Ruh', kaum spürest Du einen Hauch ... warte nur, balde ruhest Du auch ..."
or similar, but I'm ashamed, that at the moment neither I can remember it correctly/completely nor from whom it is - I'm getting old, I suppose :-) O.k., it has been long ago, that I have come across it - maybe somebody can help?
But of course, "FLAUTE" is the right German word for "no wind at all on sea".
You're all dead wrong! It's called "no-falafel night". No wind at all in the casbah.
"Appears in the old Irish folk song ‘Bantry Bay’" Aah, Bantry Bay... 'Twas close by that I met my sweet colleen. Such a coaxing elf. :-)
"SZTIL" is another nice name I've seen. This one also sounds germanic (Dutch perhaps?) Szounds Syldavian to me...
"It's always safe to say it's Goethe if you see a poem in German :-)" Right-o! I mean, "ziehr gutt", ya? (See? I knew all those WW2 movies would teach me something.)
"Is there a word for no wind at all?"
ReplyDeleteThe description"Dead calm" comes to mind ;)
Sure, it's called "Dead Calm" :)
ReplyDeleteIf it continues for too long then it's called "the doldrums".
ReplyDeleteWalking in a windless night is a bit like walking “in the gloaming,” an archaic English term used by poets to describe a still twilight. Appears in the old Irish folk song ‘Bantry Bay’ as follows:
ReplyDelete“As I'm sitting all alone in the gloaming
The shadows of the past draw near;
And I see the lovely faces all around me
That used to glad the old front pier...”
The Germans have a nice word for it : "FLAUTE" It's been borrowed to my native Polish as well, meaning "no wind at sea". Wiki says "no wind" goes up to 0.2 mps by the way :)
ReplyDelete"SZTIL" is another nice name I've seen. This one also sounds germanic (Dutch perhaps?)
I think "SZTIL" is the same as "still" in German. My English dictionary translates it into: silent, quiet, calm, still (funny, same in English).
ReplyDeleteThere is a famous poem in German, like
"Über allen Wipfeln ist Ruh',
kaum spürest Du einen Hauch ...
warte nur, balde
ruhest Du auch ..."
or similar, but I'm ashamed, that at the moment neither I can remember it correctly/completely nor from whom it is - I'm getting old, I suppose :-) O.k., it has been long ago, that I have come across it - maybe somebody can help?
But of course, "FLAUTE" is the right German word for "no wind at all on sea".
It's always safe to say it's Goethe if you see a poem in German :-)
ReplyDeleteThis one, according to wiki, is from "Wanderers Nachlied"
Über allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh,
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.
You're all dead wrong! It's called "no-falafel night". No wind at all in the casbah.
ReplyDelete"Appears in the old Irish folk song ‘Bantry Bay’"
Aah, Bantry Bay... 'Twas close by that I met my sweet colleen. Such a coaxing elf. :-)
"SZTIL" is another nice name I've seen. This one also sounds germanic (Dutch perhaps?)
Szounds Syldavian to me...
"It's always safe to say it's Goethe if you see a poem in German :-)"
Right-o!
I mean, "ziehr gutt", ya?
(See? I knew all those WW2 movies would teach me something.)