Else Lasker-Schuler was one of the most interesting characters on the art scene in early 20th century Germany. Not only was Lasker-Schuler a female poet, which was highly unusual at the time, she was also an author, artist, and playwright (The National Library of Israel). This analysis will focus on the Lasker-Schuler’s poem, “My Blue Piano”, which is the title poem of her last collection of poems. “My Blue Piano” demonstrates many modernist characteristics and helps to understand the difficult life of Else Lasker-Schuler. Also, comparing the original poem to the English translation provides details essential to better understanding the poem.
Lasker-Schuler was indeed an artist that wanted to break away from the norms of society in both her …show more content…
The first lines of the poem say “At home I have a blue piano/ but I cannot play a note”. This simple sentence brings up two essential questions. First, where is home? And second why can’t she play it? Research on Lasker-Schuler’s life is essential to answering these questions. Lasker-Schuler was born in Germany and lived there for much of her life, but because of the rise in power of the Nazi party, the Jewish artist fled to Switzerland. During her time in Zurich, she took a few trips to Israel and was greatly inspired each time, but on her last visit, World War II broke out and Swiss authorities forbade Lasker-Schuler to return to Switzerland (The National Library of Israel). One can infer that the “home” that Lasker-Schuler writes about was in Germany, a place that she knew she could never return. This distance between her current place of residence and her “home” is most likely why she could not “play a note”. The dream of returning “home” was never plausible in her mind. Lasker-Schuler then goes on to say “Sweet angels, I have eaten/ Such bitter bread. Push open/ The door of heaven.” Here the poet reveals just how miserable she truly was at the time this poem was written. Lasker-Schuler had a difficult life. She had to deal the harassment by members of the Nazi party, being displaced from her home, the death of her son, and much more. During her time in Jerusalem, Lasker-Schuler faced poverty, illness,
Lasker-Schuler was indeed an artist that wanted to break away from the norms of society in both her …show more content…
The first lines of the poem say “At home I have a blue piano/ but I cannot play a note”. This simple sentence brings up two essential questions. First, where is home? And second why can’t she play it? Research on Lasker-Schuler’s life is essential to answering these questions. Lasker-Schuler was born in Germany and lived there for much of her life, but because of the rise in power of the Nazi party, the Jewish artist fled to Switzerland. During her time in Zurich, she took a few trips to Israel and was greatly inspired each time, but on her last visit, World War II broke out and Swiss authorities forbade Lasker-Schuler to return to Switzerland (The National Library of Israel). One can infer that the “home” that Lasker-Schuler writes about was in Germany, a place that she knew she could never return. This distance between her current place of residence and her “home” is most likely why she could not “play a note”. The dream of returning “home” was never plausible in her mind. Lasker-Schuler then goes on to say “Sweet angels, I have eaten/ Such bitter bread. Push open/ The door of heaven.” Here the poet reveals just how miserable she truly was at the time this poem was written. Lasker-Schuler had a difficult life. She had to deal the harassment by members of the Nazi party, being displaced from her home, the death of her son, and much more. During her time in Jerusalem, Lasker-Schuler faced poverty, illness,