Decoding the Poetic Term: Friedeleis in German Poetry
"Musik sei jedes Wort und friedeleis Ein Frommsein wie ein reines Kinderleben." This quote is from the lines in "Leben und Natur" by Gustav Schüler, an 19th-century German poet. His style, though highly poetic and perhaps a bit over the top by today's standards, offers valuable insights into the nuances of German literary language.
Understanding the Poem
The poem "Leben und Natur" (Life and Nature) by Gustav Schüler invites readers to delve into a world where music and nature intermingle, creating a serene and emotive experience. The poem reads:
Dein Lied sei Sang den einer Seele singt
Die los vom Weltgewühl sich Welten dichtet n
Inm D?mmerweben noch von Nacht umringt,
Inm D?mmertraum von Morgenglut durchlichtet.
Musik sei jedes Wort und friedeleis
Ein Frommsein wie ein reines Kinderleben.
Ach eine Welt sei deiner Lieder Kreis
Drin losgeloste sich die H?nde geben.
Translated, it speaks of a song that a soul sings, one that is free from the hustle and bustle of the world and creates its own worlds in the dusk's weaving, encircled by night and lit by the morning's glow. Each word should be like music, quiet and gentle as peace, and a piousness like a pure child's life. May this circle of your song create a world where hands are given and only shaken free.
What Does Friedeleis Mean?
The term "friedeleis" is not commonly found in German dictionaries, yet it is a vital part of Gustav Schüler's poetic lexicon. It is a poetic blend of Friede (peace) and leis (quiet or gentle), with the phonetic 'e' omitted for poetic effect.
The essence of "friedeleis" is to describe the quiet, soft, and gentle nature of peace. It combines the serenity of peace with a soft and quiet demeanor, much like how one might whisper something of importance. In this context, it speaks to a peaceful, gentle, and almost ethereal quality of life that is deeply intertwined with the natural world.
Exploring Poetic Constructions
The creation of "friedeleis" is an example of how poets often blend nouns and adjectives to evoke specific meanings. The process of combining a noun and an adjective, even if the result sounds contrived, is a common literary technique. Here are a couple of examples:
Summerwarm (warm as summer)
A poem by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks sets the stage for another blend of words:
Honey-Sweet
Twenty years ago to-day
In the fragrant month of roses
A little baby girl came our way
To prove the love that God discloses
Precious gift! from head to feet
And we called her [name of the child]
Honeysweet (sweet as honey)
In a 2800-year-old Sumerian love poem, we find the same construction:
Bridegroom dear to my heart
Goodly is your beauty honeysweet
Lion dear to my heart
Goodly is your beauty honeysweet
These examples illustrate how poets and writers can create new adjectives by blending nouns with adjectives, creating a rich and evocative language that can convey deep emotions and profound meanings.
Conclusion
The German word "friedeleis" in the context of Gustav Schüler's poetry is a poignant expression of tranquility, peace, and simplicity. It encapsulates the quiet, ethereal beauty of a childlike purity and a world free from the chaos of the world. Although it is not a common term, it showcases the poetic language and creativity that German literature can offer, inviting readers to immerse themselves in a world of subtle yet profound beauty.