Hermann Hesse, Poet

I wrote a piece elsewhere about Hermann Hesse, the renowned German-Swiss author and Nobel Prize laureate, and in writing it I recalled an incident from my teaching past. 

I taught Siddhartha only once and a Jewish student in my class said that the Buddhist philosophy in the novel seemed all well and good, but wasn't Hesse a Nazi? I had to admit that I didn't know much about that aspect of Hesse's life but I knew he left Germany and lived in Switzerland. But it caught me off guard and I thought I had better dig into Hesse's WWII years.

In 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power, Hesse left Germany and settled in Switzerland. He chose to live in self-imposed exile rather than remain in a country governed by the Nazi regime, which he found oppressive and antithetical to his values.I don't think his personal beliefs and political stance are not easily categorized, but I did find some connections. 

Hesse was critical of the Nazi regime and its ideology, particularly its emphasis on nationalism, militarism, and authoritarianism. His writings often expressed opposition to totalitarianism and the suppression of individual freedom and creativity.

While Hesse was critical of the Nazi regime, he did not engage in overt political activism or join anti-Nazi resistance movements. Instead, he focused on his literary work, using his writing as a means of resistance and dissent against oppressive ideologies.

Hesse's books were among those banned and burned by the Nazis due to their perceived subversive or degenerate content. Despite this censorship, Hesse continued to write and publish works that promoted humanistic ideals and spiritual growth.

Throughout his writings, Hesse emphasized themes of humanism, individualism, and the search for inner truth and meaning. These values stood in contrast to the collectivist and totalitarian tendencies of Nazi ideology.

My questioning student and everyone in the class were satisfied and pleased with the additional biographical information. 

In doing my research, I discovered that Hesse also wrote poetry. I had not known that and bought a used book of his poems. At the time, the poems did not strike me as great, at least not as good as the novels. I came across that old paperback recently and reading some of the poems was what inspired to write the other piece about his poetry. 

I will crosspost some of that article here. I opened it with a quote from Hesse.

“Accustom yourself every morning to look for a moment at the sky and suddenly you will be aware of the air around you, the scent of morning freshness that is bestowed on you between sleep and labor. You will find every day that the gable of every house has its own particular look, its own special lighting. Pay it some heed…you will have for the rest of the day a remnant of satisfaction and a touch of coexistence with nature. Gradually and without effort the eye trains itself to transmit many small delights.”  – Hermann Hesse

I found that quote in an article and it struck me as a kind of found poetry.  I knew that he wrote some poetry but Hesse is best known for novels (Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, Demian)  Not surprisingly, his poetry often explores themes such as self-discovery, spirituality, nature, and the human condition which are also philosophical and existential concerns found in his prose writings. His poetic style is characterized by its simplicity, introspection, and lyrical quality.

His poem “Stages” appears in his last novel The Glass Bead Game. With that novel, he won the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1946.

STAGES
As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavor,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.

The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slave of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.

He also wrote poems about more common themes, such as love and loss.

WITHOUT YOU
(Translated by James Wright)

My Pillow gazes upon me at night
Empty as a gravestone;
I never thought it would be so bitter
To be alone,
Not to lie down asleep in your hair.

I lie alone in a silent house,
The hanging lamp darkened,
And gently stretch out my hands
To gather in yours,
And softly press my warm mouth
Toward you, and kiss myself, exhausted and weak-
Then suddenly I’m awake
And all around me the cold night grows still.
The star in the window shines clearly-
Where is your blond hair,
Where your sweet mouth?

Now I drink pain in every delight
And poison in every wine;
I never knew it would be so bitter
To be alone,
Alone, without you.

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