As The 100th Anniversary Of The First Year Of World War I (Remember The War To End All Wars) Continues ... Some Remembrances-Poet’s Corner-German Jewish Poets   

KURT TUCHOLSKY (1890-1935)

HELMET OFF

 

There the large Pickelhaube lies

In a black, dark hole in the earth.

It rests quietly…But look, I believe

That it is still moving.

A  District President displays his large teeth

“Must I recite mocking poetry at the grave?

De mortuis nil nisi bene! “

As it happened.

Do not forget them: the chevaliers,

The officers who sat on their wealth at home

The young one is playing the zither of complaint –

All of them beasts.

Helmet off!

Full of piety? Yes, full of cakes.

He lies on well-deserved dungheap.

We must first of all curse the old

And then look for good new ones to curse

Until he has decomposed.

Translated by Peter Appelbaum