New Short Story

Today I decided to add yet another burden to my already heavy writing burden. A week or two ago we listened to a song by Robert Schumann in Music History. His song Erlkonig is based on the poem of the same name by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Here's an English translation of it along with the original German text so you know what I'm basing my story on.

Erlkönig von J.W. Goethe Translation by Hyde Flippo

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? Who rides so late through the night and wind?

Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind; It's the father with his child;

Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm, He has the boy safe in his arm,

Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm. He holds him secure, he holds him warm.

«Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?» “My son, what makes you hide your face in fear?”

Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht? Father, don't you see the Erlking?

Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif? The Erlking with crown and flowing robe?

«Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif.» – “My son, it's a wisp of fog.” –

«Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir! “You dear child, come along with me!

Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir; Such lovely games I'll play with you;

Manch bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand, Many colorful flowers are at the shore,

Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand.» My mother has many a golden garment.”

Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht, My father, my father, and do you not hear Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht? – What the Erlking promises me so softly? –

«Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind; “Be quiet, stay quiet, my child;

In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind.» – In the dry leaves the wind is rustling.”

«Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn? “Won't you come along with me, my fine boy?

Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön; My daughters shall attend to you so nicely.

Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn, My daughters do their nightly dance,

Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein.» And they'll rock you and dance you and sing you to sleep.”

Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort My father, my father, and do you not see over there

Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort? – Erlking's daughters in that dark place?

«Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau: “My son, my son, I see it most definitely”:

«Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau.» It's the willow trees looking so grey.”

«Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt; “I love you; I'm charmed by your beautiful form;

Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt.» And if you're not willing, then I'll use force.”

Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an! My father, my father, now he's grabbing hold of me!

Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan! – Erlking has done me harm! –

Dem Vater grausets, er reitet geschwind, The father shudders, he rides swiftly,

Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind, He holds in (his) arms the moaning child.

Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Not; He reaches the farmhouse with effort and urgency.

In seinen Armen das Kind war tot. In his arms the child was dead.

Isn't this quite a creepy poem? And it is just begging me to turn it into a short story, so I started that tonight during Instrument Seminar. I'll definitely be trying to get it published if I can. And there's a few contests that I could send it in to as well. Now I just need to finish writing it before November or it'll never get done!

The first NaNoWriMo meeting in my area is this Saturday. It's a novel planning party so we'll plan our novels and socialize. I hope that I can get a ride to it or else I can't go.

Until next time!