The Brown Book

Diary Entry of November 15, 1865

Overview

The poem contrasts the changing light of the physical sun with the enduring light of the inner life. Their apparent union makes the sunshine over Hohenschwangau an image of shared happiness.

Content

Wednesday, November 15:

Die Sonne von Hohenschwangau
Zwei Sonnen sind’s die Licht den Welten geben:
Des Tages Stern, wie sähen wir sein Licht,
erleuchtete aus tiefstem eig’nen Leben
die Weltnacht uns die inn’re Sonne nicht?
Was er bescheint, ist wechselvolles Weben;
doch ewig strahlt was aus dem Inn’ren bricht.
Ein Wunder nun! Aus unsrer Seelen Wonne
lacht heut’ ob Hohenschwangau hell die Sonne.

The Sun of Hohenschwangau
There are two suns that to our worlds give light:
the star of day, how would we see its gleam,
did not, from its own profoundest life,
our inner sun illumine the world night?
What it shines upon is movement, change;
yet what breaks from within, shines out eternal.
A wonder now! From out of our soul’s bliss
the sun today laughs bright on Hohenschwangau.