Scattered Glances Outside

Zerstreutes Hinausschaun

Was werden wir in diesen Frühlingstagen tun, die jetzt rasch kommen? Heute früh war der Himmel grau, geht man aber jetzt zum Fenster, so ist man überrascht und lehnt die Wange an die Klinke des Fensters.

Unten sieht man das Licht der freilich schon sinkenden Sonne auf dem Gesicht des kindlichen Mädchens, das so geht und sich umschaut, und zugleich sieht man den Schatten des Mannes darauf, der hinter ihm rascher kommt.

Dann ist der Mann schon vorübergegangen und das Gesicht des Kindes ist ganz hell.

Scattered Glances Outside

What will we do in these Spring days now racing towards us? Early this morning the heavens were gray, but if I go to the window now, then I am surprised and lean my head against the window frame.

Below I see the light of the sun, already setting, on the face of the childlike girl, who walks and looks around her, and at the same time I see upon her the shadow of a man who races up behind.

Then the man has already passed and the face of the child is entirely bright.

--Franz Kafka

Comments

[TP]

Liking the Kafka quotes (he's my favorite author of all time). Can I request that this be made a regular feature?

[Adrianne Truett]

It is :)
I'll keep putting them up as I remember to, and as I find translations I've done / do new translations.

(I don't like the Muirs' translations; they compare German to a bowel movement and want to free Kafka from the German language. I, on the contrary, try to keep a sense of the German there. It may make it less marketable and more awkward, but I do like it better, and that's all that matters to me, since I'm not trying to sell it!)

[centinel]

You know, I've read The Castle, and I've read Amerika, but I have never read The Trial. I believe that's a bit odd.