Humour & Satire

Spiegelherz

~ Christina Egan ~ Leave a comment

Spiegelherz

Laß uns insgeheim die Spiegel tauschen,–
was soll ich mit einer schönen Frau?
Oder Haaren, die sich bronzen bauschen,
oder Augen von Spätabendblau?

Hast du dein Porträt in Hell und Dunkel
nicht genug geprüft ob seines Werts?
Ich bin an der Reihe, dein Gefunkel
aufzufangen als dein Spiegelherz.

Christina Egan © 2014

—

In these lines, a beautiful woman suggests to a fascinating man
swapping mirrors so that he can admire her instead of himself!
She also implies that her heart could be the mirror of his heart.

The tone is light-hearted, but the intention is serious. It is the title
of this poem, the made-up word ‘Mirror-Heart’, which lent its name
to the category of love poems on this website: ‘Mirror hearts’.

 

Gingerbread Man

~ Christina Egan ~ Leave a comment

Gingerbread Man

God made you of some gingerbread
which over time intensifies:
so that with every year, your breath
will taste of hotter, sweeter spice!

Christina Egan © 2014

—

We Married on the Ferris-Wheel

Vienna quivered in the heat
for our furtive feast:
we married on the ferris-wheel
(we kissed on it, at least).

The palaces shone yellow-white
like lemon cakes with glaze:
we married in the royal grounds
(we kissed within a maze).

That summer rolled into a ball
and down the hill of time –
Vienna basks in splendour still,
my bridegroom still is mine!

Christina Egan © 2014

—

String of Pearls

Your presence makes this globe that whirls
the best of all existing worlds —
your kisses make this blob a pearl
from which a string of worlds unfurls!

Christina Egan © 2015

—

Asteroid

He inhabits his own tiny planet,
a fragment of rock, you might say;
his orbit seems steep and erratic
and often immensely away.

Yet, what you can’t see from your garret
nor find in your smart telescopes:
it’s two of them snug on that comet
that’s studded with roses and oaks.

Christina Egan © 2010

Göttermahl (Malerei in Fulda)

~ Christina Egan ~ Leave a comment

Göttermahl
(Malerei im Stadtschloß zu Fulda)

Rundes Brot mit blonder Rinde
spendet uns der Sonne Kraft;
roter Wein voll süßer Hitze
filtert uns der Erde Saft.

Zu dem Abendbrot gesellt sich
stückweis gutgewürzte Wurst;
saftigbunte Früchte endlich
stillen den entfachten Durst.

Welches Mahl man mir auch biete,
nichts kommt dieser Speise gleich,–
und mir scheint gar, man genieße
ebenso im Götterreich!

Christina Egan © 2015

—

You can find very clear photographs of
Emanuel Wohlhaupter’s painted ceiling
(1728-1730) in the City Palace of Fulda
at Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte.