Baal’s song | [Baals Lied] |
BFA 11, 9; 1918; P1966, 1982 in this version; T.K. Copyright © 1966, 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
O you can’t know what I suffer . . . | [O du ahnst nicht, was ich leide . . .] |
BFA 13, 109; 1917/18; P1982; T.K. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
A bitter love song | [Ein bitteres Liebeslied] |
BFA 11, 11; 1918; P1965; D.C. This poem survives only as a fragment. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
However that may be, there was a time . . . | [Wie dem auch sei, einmal . . .] |
BFA 13, 126; 1918; P1963; T.K. This is possibly a sketch for a continuation of the previous poem. Copyright © 1963 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Song of love | [Lied von Liebe] |
BFA 11, 12; 1918; P1975; D.C. Copyright © 1975 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The youth and the maiden | [Der Jüngling und die Jungfrau] |
BFA 11, 13; 1918; P1961; D.C. Copyright © 1961 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Half in my sleep . . . | [So halb im Schlaf . . .] |
BFA 13, 133; 1919; P1982; D.C. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The days of all your bitternesses . . . | [Die Tage deiner |
BFA 13, 132; 1919; P1963; T.K. Copyright © 1963 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
On vitality | [Über die Vitalität] |
BFA 13, 150; 1920; P1982; T.K. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Through the room the wild wind comes . . . | [Durch die Kammer ging der Wind . . .] |
BFA 13, 151; 1920; P1920 first stanza, 1982; T.K. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Down in the willow grove . . . | [Dunkel im |
BFA 13, 152; 1920; P1982; T.K. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The seventh psalm | [Der siebente Psalm: |
BFA 11, 20; 1920; P1960; D.C. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Heh. Psalm 9 | [Von He. 9. Psalm] |
BFA 11, 22; 1920; P1965; D.C. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The eleventh psalm | [Der elfte Psalm: Abends am Fluss . . .] |
BFA 11, 23; 1920; P1960; D.C. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
12th psalm | [12. Psalm] |
BFA 11, 25; 1920; P1988; D.C. There is a small gap in Brecht’s text at the beginning of this poem, implying a direct object for “stolen.” Copyright © 1988 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Remembering Marie A. | [Erinnerung an die Marie A.] |
BFA 11, 92; 1920; P1924; D.C. Copyright © 1924 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The river sings praises . . . | [Der Fluss lobsingt . . .] |
BFA 13, 163; 1920; P1976; D.C. Copyright © 1976 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
To M | [An M] |
BFA 13, 205; 1921; P1982; D.C. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
On the way from Augsburg to Timbuktu . . . | [Auf dem Wege von Augsburg . . .] |
BFA 13, 206; 1921; P1993; D.C. Copyright © 1993 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Balaam Lai in his thirtieth year . . . | [Balaam Lai in seinem dreissigsten Jahr . . .] |
BFA 13, 212; 1921; P1982; D.C. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Now in the night . . . | [Jetzt in der Nacht . . .] |
BFA 13, 216; 1921; P1960; D.C. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Need for art | [Forderung nach Kunst] |
BFA 13, 312; c.1925; P1982; T.K. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
There at the beginning . . . | [Am ersten Tage schon gleich zu Beginne . . .] |
BFA 13, 217; 1921; P1993; D.C. Copyright © 1993 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Balaam Lai in July | [Balaam Lai im Juli] |
BFA 13, 231; 1921; P1982; D.C. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Song of lost innocence folding the linen | [Lied der verderbten Unschuld beim Wäschefalten] |
BFA 13, 233; 1921; P1951; D.C. Copyright © 1951 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Ballad | [Ballade: Und als sie lag |
BFA 13, 244; 1922; P1965; D.C. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Discovery about a young woman | [Entdeckung an einer jungen Frau] |
BFA 13, 312; c.1925; P1960; T.K. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Ballad of the faithless women | [Ballade von |
BFA 13, 330; 1926; P1982; T.K. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The song of Surabaya-Johnny | [Surabaya-Johnny] |
BFA 13, 344; 1926; P1929; T.K. This song found its way into the play Happy End, by Brecht and Elisabeth Hauptmann. It became a hit in the setting by Kurt Weill, memorably sung by Lotte Lenya. Copyright © 1929 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The guest | [Der Gast] |
BFA 13, 353; c. 1926; P1960; D.C. This version includes a manuscript variant of the last two lines. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
He was easy to get . . . | [Es war leicht, |
BFA 11, 170; 1926/27; P1960; D.C. This and the next are taken from the short collection Reader for City-Dwellers. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Again and again . . . | [Immer wieder . . .] |
BFA 11, 171; 1926/27; P1960; D.C. Copyright © 1960 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Tercets on love—The lovers | [Terzinen über |
BFA 14, 15; 1928; P1930; T.K. This poem also features as a dialogue, in more or less alternate lines, between Jenny and Paul in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Copyright © 1930 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Spring | [Das Frühjahr kommt . . .] |
BFA 14, 127; 1931; P1932; D.C. Copyright © 1932 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The first sonnet | [Das erste Sonett] |
BFA 11, 185; 1932/33; P1964; D.C. This and the next six poems are addressed to or have to do with Margarete Steffin. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The third sonnet | [Das dritte Sonett] |
BFA 11, 186; 1933; P1988; D.C. Copyright © 1988 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Eighth sonnet | [Achtes Sonett: Nachts, wo die Wäsche . . .] |
BFA 11, 191; 1933; P1982; D.C. Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Buying oranges | [Der Orangenkauf] |
BFA 11, 195; 1934; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
When we had been apart . . . | [Als wir so lang getrennt . . .] |
BFA 14, 332; 1936; P1965; D.C. This poem survives only as a fragment. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The twelfth sonnet | [Das zwölfte Sonett (Über die Gedichte des Dante |
BFA 11, 190; 1934; P1938; D.C. Copyright © 1938 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The thirteenth sonnet | [Das dreizehnte Sonett] |
BFA 11, 190; 1934; P1938; D.C. Copyright © 1938 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Thoughts of a stripper during the act of undressing | [Gedanken eines Revuemädchens] |
BFA 14, 295; 1935; P1964; T.K. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Nanna’s Song | [Nannas Lied] |
BFA 14, 334; 1936; P1938; T.K. This and the next are songs sung by characters in the play Round Heads and Pointed Heads, for which they were set to music by Hanns Eisler. Copyright © 1938 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The madam’s song | [Kuppellied] |
BFA 14, 333; 1936; P1938; T.K. Copyright © 1938 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Song of the widow in love | [Lied der liebenden |
BFA 14, 328; 1936; P1965; D.C. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The actress in exile | [Die Schauspielerin |
BFA 14, 355; 1937; P1937; T.K. Helene Weigel played the title role at the première of Señora Carrar’s Rifles in Paris in 1937. Copyright © 1937 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
When I’d reported to the couple, thus . . . | [Als ich den beiden so berichtet . . .] |
BFA 14, 417; c.1938; P1964; T.K. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
I shall go with the one I love . . . | [Ich will mit dem |
BFA 14, 458; c.1939; P1953; T.K. Copyright © 1953 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
To be read mornings and evenings | [Morgens und abends |
BFA 14, 353; 1937; P1964; T.K. This and the next four are addressed to or have to do with Ruth Berlau. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Kin-Jeh said of his sister | [Kin-Jeh sagte von |
BFA 14, 352; 1937; P1965; D.C. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Our unceasing conversation . . . | [Unser unaufhörliches Gespräch . . .] |
BFA 14, 354; 1937; P1965; D.C. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Kin-Jeh’s second poem about his sister | [Zweites Gedicht Kin-Jehs über |
BFA 14, 356; 1937; P1965; D.C. Copyright © 1965 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Fruitless call | [Vergeblicher Anruf] |
BFA 14, 430; 1939; P1982; D.C. svarer ikke—(Danish) “there’s no reply.” Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
19th Sonnet | [19. Sonett. Begegnung mit den elfenbeinernen Wächtern] |
BFA 14, 354; 1937; P1964; D.C. This and the next ten all concern Margarete Steffin, who, having followed Brecht into antifascist exile, died of tuberculosis in Moscow in 1941. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The good comrade M.S. | [Die gute Genossin M.S.] |
BFA 14, 357; 1937; P1964; D.C. Brecht used the term Lehrstücke for a loose group of plays from around 1930. It is variously translated into English as “teaching plays” or “learning plays.” Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The 21st sonnet | [Das 21. Sonett] |
BFA 14, 418; c.1938; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Sonnet | [Sonett: Und nun |
BFA 14, 437; 1939; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Sonnet No. 19 | [Sonett Nr. 19] |
BFA 14, 437; 1939; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Then at the last, when death . . . | [Als es soweit war . . .] |
BFA 15, 40; 1941; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Wreckage | [Die Trümmer] |
BFA 15, 42; 1941; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Remembering my little teacher . . . | [Eingedenk meiner |
BFA 15, 43; 1941; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
In the ninth year fleeing from Hitler . . . | [Im neunten Jahre der Flucht vor Hitler . . .] |
BFA 15, 44; 1941; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
My general has fallen . . . | [Mein General ist gefallen . . .] |
BFA 15, 45; 1941; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
After the death of my collaborator M. S. | [Nach dem Tod meiner Mitarbeiterin M.S.] |
BFA 15, 45; 1941; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
When I came back from Saint-Nazaire . . . | [Als ich ging nach Saint Nazaire . . .] |
BFA 15, 74; 1942; P1956; D.C. Originally written for the play The Visions of Simone Machard. Copyright © 1956 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Instruction in love | [Liebesunterricht] |
BFA 15, 162; 1945; P1993; T.K. Copyright © 1993 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The song of fraternization | [Lied vom Fraternisieren] |
BFA 15, 177; 1946; P1949; T.K. This song is sung by the camp-following prostitute, Yvette, in later versions of Mother Courage and Her Children. Copyright © 1949 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
The plum song | [Das Pflaumenlied] |
BFA 15, 192; 1948; P1950; T.K. Written for the Zurich premiere of Mr Puntila and his Man Matti. Paul Dessau set it to music on the basis of the tune of “When It’s Springtime in the Rockies.” Copyright © 1950 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Sauna and sex | [Sauna und Beischlaf] |
BFA 15, 193; 1948; P1982; T.K. In his notebook Brecht signed this and another “pornographic” poem, “Thomas Mann.” Copyright © 1982 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Weaknesses | [Schwächen] |
BFA 15, 223; 1950; P1964; T.K. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
When I left you, afterwards . . . | [Als ich nachher |
BFA 15, 240; 1950; P1953; D.C. Copyright © 1953 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
My love gave me a little branch . . . | [Die Liebste |
BFA 15, 240; 1950; P1953; D.C. Copyright © 1953 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Seven roses the rosebush has . . . | [Sieben Rosen |
BFA 15, 241; 1950; P1953; D.C. Copyright © 1953 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
When it is fun with you . . . | [Wenn du mich |
BFA 15, 241; 1950; P1953; D.C. Copyright © 1953 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Smoke | [Der Rauch] |
BFA 12, 308; 1953; P1953; T.K. The poem referred originally to the house that Brecht acquired for the young actor Käthe Reichel, near his own house in Buckow. Copyright © 1953 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Love song from a bad time | [Liebeslied |
BFA 15, 286; c.1954; P1993; T.K. Copyright © 1993 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
Send me a leaf . . . | [Schicke mir ein |
BFA 15, 293; 1955; P1964; D.C. Copyright © 1964 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag | |
When I have to leave you dear . . . | [Wenn ich von dir gehen werde . . .] |
BFA 15, 288; 1955; P1959; T.K. This was written for Brecht’s adaptation of Farquhar’s 1706 play The Recruiting Officer (Trumpets and Drums), where it is sung on the banks of the Severn, the first verse by a recruit, the second by his girl. Copyright © 1959 by Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag |