EDIFYING REFLECTIONS OF A TOBACCO-SMOKER

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igloo

Lifer
Jan 17, 2010
4,083
5
woodlands tx
Set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach. Author unknown. Translated by Edward Breck.
As oft I fill my faithful pipe,
To while away the moments glad,
With fragrant leaves, so rich and ripe,
My mind perceives an image sad,
So that I can but clearly see
How very like it is to me.
My pipe is made of earth and clay,
From which my mortal part is wrought;
I, too, must turn to earth some day.
It often falls, as quick as thought,
And breaks in two,—puts out its flame;
My fate, alas! is but the same!
My pipe I color not, nor paint;
White it remains, and hence 'tis true
That, when in Death's cold arms I faint,
My lips shall wear the ashen hue;
And as it blackens day by day,
So black the grave shall turn my clay!
And when the pipe is put alight
The smoke ascends, then trembles, wanes,
And soon dissolves in sunshine bright,
And but the whitened ash remains.
'Tis so man's glory crumble must,
E'en as his body, into dust!
How oft the filler is mislaid;
And, rather than to seek in vain,
I use my finger in its stead,
And fancy as I feel the pain,
If coals can burn to such degree,
How hot, O Lord, must Hades be!
So in tobacco oft I find,
Lessons of such instructive type;
And hence with calm, contented mind
I live, and smoke my faithful pipe
In reverence where'er I roam,—
On land, on water, and at home.

 
May 31, 2012
4,295
34
Lovely.
Grim yet uplifting.
Almost like Christian Mysticism.
Was it written in German?
Maybe Anglo Saxon from looking briefly into Breck...

 

conlejm

Lifer
Mar 22, 2014
1,433
8
Beautiful. Interesting that the original was written in German but the English translation rhymes so well.

 
May 31, 2012
4,295
34
I wonder too, which piece went with it?
...this seems a good match,

heavy depths with soaring swells

:

:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F51uHpH3yQk

 

tuold

Lifer
Oct 15, 2013
2,133
165
Beaverton,Oregon
The only version I could find was some guy pounding the melody out on his piano. I'm going to attempt to link a version I have here closer to the original, though the singer is slightly more operatic than I enjoy.
JS Bach Pipe Song

 
May 31, 2012
4,295
34
Cool tuold, I didn't know it was an actual song, that info put me on the fast track...
...found this from the Briar Files, a nice write up about the song, and also features 2 different translations - I've always been fascinated by translation, it's tricky stuff...
http://briarfiles.blogspot.com/2008/09/featured-pipe-smoker-js-bach.html
Apparently, the song is known either as "So oft ich meine Tobackspfeife" or "Erbauliche Gedanken eines Tobackrauchers".
This is a great version I think:

:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fyg_147jd4
...and

This one is pretty good too,

it's got lyrics along with the singing, both German and English

http://youtu.be/NH3hhUEWJR0
Neat stuff!
Learning new things everyday at pipesmagazine.com?

Yes,

yes I am.

:puffpipe:

 

irwinmetro

Starting to Get Obsessed
May 31, 2013
205
0
It's interesting the connection between transcendence and nihilistic sorrow. Seems you can't have one without the other.
Wonderful poem; thank you for sharing.

 

tuold

Lifer
Oct 15, 2013
2,133
165
Beaverton,Oregon
Misterlowercase, I like that version much better. He's not singing to the back row =) Plus, the instrumental interludes are a welcome break.

 
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