PSALM 23 - DER HERR IST MEIN HIRTE

DIVINE GUIDANCE - Based on Psalm 23

WRITING A LOVE LETTER

ALL THAT REMAINS IS A STUPID FACE

AUTUMN ADORNMENT

2010:  DER ISLÄNDISCHE EISVULKAN  EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL ( " ɛɪjäˌfjätläˌjœːkʏtl̥ " ) BRACH AUS

FLY, WHILE YOU STILL CAN DREAM - An autobiographical song

THREE POEMS AGAINST THE WAR – 
BY JOHANNES KÜHN

1. Job
Can’t you go collect weapons from the last war?
That would be a job. And just imagine how it might delight you to extend your work to the barracks, to gather what is new for the scrap heap— and to trumpet to all the men that you know what becomes of fighters in battle!
What—do I seem foolish to you? Say you’ve lost your way— and yet arrived at the right place.
*
2. Torso
The smooth white marble of the statue is missing a hand— the one that held the arrow of death. Who struck it off?
Perhaps when the realm of eternal peace was proclaimed, under sacred names, to end all wars. With one hand, the soldier is a civilian. And naked, he gleams through the park. I look on, content.
Long, long ago. Perhaps we were mistaken about the realm of peace. Indeed.
And the lands where no one dies in war have been sung about by birds— as they still are today. Listen to them in the leaves! They dart through the green and harp out sunlight, loud.
*
3. High-Rise
The high-rise looms victorious, like a hand reaching into the sky. Floor by floor, it climbs.
Standing at the topmost window you’d gaze playfully at the backs of hawks and larks— if they came, even crows— to the city’s edge, to see it, to circle it.
You’d look far down on the other houses that stand around it like lowly servants.
Your face chalk-white before the depth. A fall— no child’s game, no man’s deed, but death.
No fear that it might fall itself! Its roots of stone were rammed deep into the earth by the builders. And the walls— so that inside, children, men, and women might feel safe— were carefully joined with the finest mortar. Steel strand by steel strand runs through its stone-hard skin.
Devil’s toil gnawed the men’s joints— all the men who worked on this house month after month as the structure grew.
I walk beneath it, in awe, and curse the bomb that might strike it. I am afraid of war.
It dawns in a plane flying even higher than the house stands— in a frenzy of rocket-noise across the noonday sky.

Johannes Kühn (1934-2023) - Translation from German: Volker Carl Jacoby

ECHOES OF WAR - Three Poems of JOHANNES KÜHN

FEUERFEE

MAGIC SONG TO THE FIRE FAIRY

LETZTES LIED - Ein Gedicht von Mascha Kaléko

MIDLIFE DREAMING - Träume in der Mitte des Lebens

DEM SEMPERER ZUM RATE

MIDNIGHT BLUES  ON THE RAILWAY

BLUES ON THE RAILS

ODE AN DIE VENUS

CHRYSANTHEMEN-THEMENTAG

DIVING LOVE or: Ode to the Despair of a Poet in Love with a Diver. Oops, he looks like Woody Allen

KOMM UND STRAHLE!

UNIVERSE INSIDE

DER GESCHAFFTE GEVATTER oder DER MÜDE SCHNITTER WILL IN RENTE

LE VIEUX COMPAGNON FATIGUÉ

THE WEARY SCOTTISH REAPER (2) - One of my masterpieces since I'm in Soundcloud !!!

JEAN VALJEAN - L'OMBRE ET LA LUMIÈRE - Chanson en l'honneur de Victor Hugo et de son œuvre majeure « Les Misérables »

SITTING JUBILEE

MY EGO-TRIP BLUES

OPERATION REIMSTURM

DER OPPONIERENDE STINKEKÄFER 

Käfer war einst voller Trauer,
fast in Depression er sank:
seine Käferart auf Dauer
penetrant und eklig stank.

Auf den Herrn der Schöpfung sauer,
zollte dem er selten Dank:
„Warum solch ein Müpselschauer?
Macht zutiefst mich seelisch krank!“

Ja, der Stinkekäfer wagte -
ob er schon sonst herzlich brav,
doch geruchsbedingt verzagte -
Traumprotest zum Herrn im Schlaf.

Und der liebe Herrgott sagte,
als des Käfers Wut ihn traf,
„Freute stets mich, wenn mich fragte
auch ein Tier, sei’s Huhn, sei’s Schaf. 

Röchest du, mein Käfer, lieblich -
dies nun als Erklärung nimm -,
schnappte dich der Mensch wie üblich,
machte er aus dir Parfüm.

Alles, was ich olfaktorisch
negativ besetzte, stank,
hat ein langes Leben vor sich,
so auch du hier… mir sei Dank!“

vcjacoby

DER OPPONIERENDE STINKEKÄFER

DIE HIPHOPPIGEN ZOOWÄRTER RUFEN DIE TIERE ZUM DIENST

THE SLEEPCAP SMOKES - End credits song  "AGENT VC77 - THE MAN WITH THE LICENCE TO WRITE"

ETERNAL TWILIGHT - THE LOVESTRUCK  VAMPIRE-POET

Li Bai (Li Tai-pe)
Geboren 701; gestorben 762.

Li Bai (auch Li Tai Bai, Li Tai-Po) war ein berühmter chinesischer Dichter der Tang-Zeit. Er war der Sohn eines reichen Kaufmanns. Mit 25 Jahren begann er, durch China zu reisen. 742 erhielt er eine Anstellung am kaiserlichen Hofe, begann aber wenige Jahre später wiederum sein unstetes Wanderleben. Li Bai werden etwa 1.000 Gedichte zugeschrieben.

Quelle: Wikipedia

DER EWIGE RAUSCH - Gedicht von Li Tai-pe (Übertragung von Klabund)

助産師への讃歌

第1節 命に踏み出すとき、 抱き上げるのは助産師。 小さく生まれたなら、 「まあ、かわいい！」と声がする。
少し大きめなら、 「すばらしい！」と叫ぶ。 もっと大きく生まれたら、 「さらに素晴らしい！」と歓声が響く。
第2節 早く生まれた赤ちゃんでも、 助産師は努力を惜しまない。 遅れて生まれた赤ちゃんでも、 助産師は慌てずに迎える。
元気いっぱい飛び出す子も、 その腕でしっかり抱きとめ、 優しさと力で包み込む。
（インストゥルメンタル・ソロ）
ブリッジ 年月が経ってから、 自分の助産師を知りたいなら、 探して感謝を伝えよう、 あなたを抱き上げた人に。
まだ生きているなら、 一緒に乾杯しよう！ 声を合わせて言うのだ： 「グラスを掲げよ！ 助産師に乾杯！」
（インストゥルメンタル・ソロ）
ブリッジ II 私は七十七歳、 私の助産師は天にいる。 心から挨拶を送る、 簡単に、すぐ届く。
彼女が見たのは小さな私、 今は大きく成長した私。 きっと驚くだろう、 この大きな姿を見たなら！
フィナーレ 今日、私に祝福をくれた人々へ、 心からの感謝を歌に込めて、 響き渡るこの讃歌を贈る。

*

Praise the Midwives!

Verse 1 
When you step into your living, the midwife lifts you, giving! If you arrive as planned and small: she cries out, “Sweetest of all!”
If you’re not quite so tiny: “Splendid!” she’ll shout so shiny. If you come a size much greater: she cheers, “Even more elator!”

Verse 2 
If you’re a little early bird, the midwife spares no toil or word. If you’re a late arrival dear, she won’t lose her steady cheer.
If you’re a bouncing baby boy, who hops from bed with bursting joy, she’ll catch you with her strong embrace, her arms a haven, full of grace!

Bridge 
Do you, in later years, desire to know who raised you from the mire? Search well, and give them praise, who lifted you in those first days!
And if they’re still alive, go toast with them, revive! Together raise the glass and say: “To midwives’ health, hip-hip hooray!”

Bridge II
 I am now seventy-seven, my midwife rests in heaven. I greet her in the skies— so easy, swift goodbyes.
She saw me only small and slight, today I’m grown, a sturdy sight. She’d be amazed, her socks a knockin’, to see me now, a hefty rockin’!

Finale 
To all who sent me greetings, with heartfelt birthday meetings, I send my thanks in song, in praise that rings along!

*

HEBAMMENLOB

Trittst ein du in dein Leben,
wird dich die Amme heben!

Kommst du nach Plan als Kleines:
die Hebamm‘ ruft „Ei, Feines!“
Kommst du nicht ganz so klein:
„Famos!“ wird’s Ämmlein schrein.
Kommst du als Nummer größer:
Mad‘Amm' jauchzt „Noch famöser!“
Kommst du als kleines Frühchen:
die Hebamm‘ scheut kein Mühchen.
Kommst du als großes Spätchen:
die Amm‘ dreht nicht am Rädchen.

Willst du als Wonneproppen
vom Wochenbette hoppen,
verhindert dies – Gottlub! -
der Amme starker Hub!

Wollt ihr nach Jahr'n erfahren,
wer eure Ammen waren?
Sucht gut, um die zu loben,
die euch dereinst gehoben!
Geht dann, wenn sie noch leben,
mit ihnen einen heben!

Sprecht aus den Toast zusammen:
„Hebt’s Glas! Auf’s Wohl der Ammen!“

vcjacoby

助産師への讃歌  - Anthem for Midwives in Japanese

DRUNKEN IMMORTALITY - Based on a poem by Li Tai-pe (701-762)

GESANG DER GEISTER ÜBER DEN WASSERN

Des Menschen Seele
Gleicht dem Wasser:

Vom Himmel kommt es,
Zum Himmel steigt es,
Und wieder nieder
Zur Erde muß es,
Ewig wechselnd.

Strömt von der hohen,
Steilen Felswand
Der reine Strahl,
Dann stäubt er lieblich
In Wolkenwellen
Zum glatten Fels,
Und leicht empfangen
Wallt er verschleiernd,
Leisrauschend
Zur Tiefe nieder.

Ragen Klippen
Dem Sturz entgegen,
Schäumt er unmutig
Stufenweise
Zum Abgrund.
Im flachen Bette
Schleicht er das Wiesental hin,
Und in dem glatten See
Weiden ihr Antlitz
Alle Gestirne.

Wind ist der Welle
Lieblicher Buhler;
Wind mischt vom Grund aus
Schäumende Wogen.

Seele des Menschen,
Wie gleichst du dem Wasser!
Schicksal des Menschen,
Wie gleichst du dem Wind.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

GESANG DER GEISTER ÜBER DEN WASSERN - Gedicht von Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Song of the Spirits Over the Waters
(English adaptation for musical setting)

The soul of man,
It flows like water:
From heaven it comes,
To heaven it rises,
Then falls again
To earth below—
Forever changing.

It pours from cliffs,
So steep and silent,
A pure bright stream.
It scatters sweetly
In cloud-like spray
On polished stone.
Softly received,
It veils its motion,
Whispers downward
To depths unknown.

When jagged rocks
Defy its falling,
It foams in fury,
Step by step
Toward the abyss.
In shallow beds
It creeps through meadows,
And in the mirror lake
The stars reflect
Their gentle faces.

The wind, a lover
Of wave and shimmer,
Stirs from the deep
The foaming tide.

O soul of man,
How like the water!
O fate of man,
How like the wind.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

SONG OF THE SPIRITS OVER THE WATERS - Based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

WINTERWÄRME - Soundtrack mit einem Gedicht von Richard Dehmel

WINTER WARMTH - Based on a poem by Richard Dehmel

CHACKY'S CHAT FUNK

ICH, DIE RATTE

Verse 1
I am the rat, a child of shadows, yet never do I crawl away. I gather up what others squander, and turn their remnants into pay. I hear the whispers in old stonework, I smell tomorrow in the breeze. I’ve known both hunger and deep sorrow – and still remain the one I am with ease.

Refrain
For I’m the rat, with cunning heart, a dancer moving between night and day. I know where every crack will start, and always made much out of little clay. I am the rat, small but wise, a master of the quiet art of life. One never has too many allies – I’d gladly count you in, if you’d oblige.

Verse 2
I love the hidden paths and byways that those who march too loudly never see. I build my nests without commandments, wherever instinct chooses them to be. I’m not a hero cast in letters golden, yet I survive through every storm. I know the world in all its seasons – and keep my humble tower safe and warm.

Refrain
For I’m the rat... 

Bridge
I am the rat who dares to cherish the things the world forgets with ease. I am the voice that’s never thunder, yet speaks a truth that does not cease. I carry earth within my footsteps, the element that gave me birth. I read the signs in all that’s near me – and stay myself upon this turning earth.

Final Refrain
For I’m the rat... 

vcjacoby

I AM THE RAT

VC JACOBY - POET ON MUSICAL WAYS

Volker Carl Jacoby - Autor, Poet, Kabarettist, Comedian, Liedermacher, Synchronsprecher - https://www.literaturland-saar.de/personen/volker-carl-jacoby

Author, poet, cabaret artist, songwriter, voice actor, journalist and even pastor: Volker C. Jacoby is active in many fields.

He spent his childhood and youth in St. Ingbert. Saarland, Germany, where he attended the humanistic and classical language branch of the State Secondary School. After university and various jobs, he began working freelance for „Saarländischer Rundfunk“ Radio, initially as a correspondent for the SR 3 regional news program, in parallel with his readings and literary solo cabaret programs. This was followed by roles as a narrator for radio plays, as a voice actor, and for various commercials.

In 1977, Jacoby teamed up with Schorsch Seitz to form the duo "Jacoby & Schorsch." Together, they primarily composed humorous songs in Standard German and the Rhenish-Franconian-Saarland dialect with a cabaret-like, ironic touch. Their dialect songs, in particular, filled a clearly existing gap in the market, especially since "SR 3 Saarlandwelle" featured them permanently on their programming, thus making them known to a wider audience. Subsequently, "Jacoby and Schorsch" produced three vinyl albums and three singles. During their tours, they also performed open-air gigs with rock bands.

Soon well known beyond the borders of Saarland, the duo received engagements in Berlin, Stuttgart (Südfunk), Cologne (Westdeutscher Rundfunk), Frankfurt, Munich, Basel and Brussels, among others. During a TV recording at the Renitenztheater in Stuttgart, they also met Mathias Richling and Karl Dall. Jacoby collaborated with the latter several times for RTL on the radio show "Die schlaue Stunde." In 1993, the popularity of "Jacoby & Schorsch" peaked – not least through their appearances with Hanns Dieter Hüsch  (A "Hüsch Evening" with music in memory of his friend and cabaret colleague Hanns Dieter Hüsch was added to the repertoire – later in 2010).

He moved to France 1994. Since then, he has been performed readings, including singing. His dialect contributions have provided him with a rewarding outlet in the "Mundartring Saar" (Saarland dialect circle), including as a reciter of poems by deceased fellow authors, to whom he lends his voice.

Constantly prolific in literary terms, his poems are in the tradition of comic poetry in the style of Wilhelm Busch, Christian Morgenstern, Joachim Ringelnatz, Eugen Roth, Heinz Erhardt and Robert Gernhardt. Volker C. Jacoby also publishes his poetry and prose on LiteratPro, Facebook and YouTube. Since 2025, he has been setting his poems to music and is constantly writing new songs. And, of course, he continues to write his cheerful, humorous, and often very quirky poems.

VC JACOBY

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