All Things German In California
Wahrheit oder LügeWas ist Lüge und was ist Wahrheit?
Gibt es über ihre Grenzen in jedem Fall Klarheit?
Darf man eine Wahrheit für bare Münze nehmen?
Kann ein Einzelner überhaupt ein objektives Urteil geben?
Das Maß, der Wert dieser Begriffe,
richtet sich doch ohnehin nach des Betrachters Sinne.
Was für den Einen die Wahrheit ist, [Read more…] about Wahrheit oder Lüge (Ein Gedicht)
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Kunstvoll geschnitzt das Werk umschließt
Stetes Ticken des Vergehens mahnt
Uraltes Holz die Zeit beschützt
Stumm vom Vergessen verschlungen
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Auf zarte Zeiger sich Perlmutt ergießt
Den Weg des Augenblicks ins Uhrwerk bahnt
Verborgen, vor der Augen Blick geschützt
Unvergänglich im Innern versunken
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Fortwährend das Dasein verfliegt
Das Jetzt den Augenblick verbannt
Nur uraltes Holz seine Bedeutung noch kennt
Gelegenheit im Vergessen entschwunden
©Samantha Sam
Image: pexels.com
Samantha Sam – grew up in Mecklenburg Vorpommern. She now lives in a little, enchanting town called Lappersdorf by Regensburg. Since early childhood, she was devoted to writing, which served her well in her later profession as a communications specialist; even though writing there was business related rather than creative.
In her personal life, she has been writing speeches for weddings as well as birthdays of family and friends; speeches, that are still on everyone’s lips years after. Often family and friends encouraged her to devote more time to writing professionally. So, when her daughter left home, ‘the time was ripe’! Her passion for writing made her engage in her first novel, which she is in the process of putting on the finishing touches. She writes under her pen name “Samantha Sam”.
Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft
In der Weihnacht ein Menschenskind die Welt betrat,
in ihm sich der Same für eine besondere Kraft verbarg.
Eine Idee entfaltete eine wunderbare Kraft,
die in Geschichten Jahrtausende überdauert hat.
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Lichter glitzern in den Fenstern und Straßen,
Geschäftiges Treiben herrscht in den Gassen.
Frohsinn und Besinnlichkeit erklingt,
während die Natur die Stille des Winters besingt.
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Überall glitzernde Kugeln und bunte Lichter.
Zuckergebäck erhellen die Kindergesichter. [Read more…] about Weihnachten – Die wunderbare Kraft *Merry Christmas *
Our last book tip for Christmas 2018 makes us indulge in famous German literature. It’s a book that is not only a must for all Tucholsky fans but also for everyone, who loves Berlin and its history.
“Hereafter. We Were Sitting on a Cloud, Dangling Our Legs.” is a collection of humorous short stories by Tucholsky that for the first time appear as a collection in a book as well as being published in English.
Kurt Tucholsky is known for his political and satirical stories in the Weimar era, but the famed author also had a whimsical, spiritual side, and we experience it in this book, Hereafter. We Were Sitting on a Cloud, Dangling Our Legs.
Hereafter was originally a loose series of humorous short stories. Tucholsky wrote them between 1925 and 1928, while he was on assignment in Paris for his paper, Die Weltbühne (The World Stage). This is the first time these stories are collected in a book — adorned with pictures of little angels from Berlin’s cemeteries —, and also the first time they are translated into English. [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #5 – Kurt Tucholsky’s Whimsical Stories About the Afterlife
Tesha Discovers The World by Claudia Tichy, was written, “for the tender children’s souls, keeping in mind the healing power over disease, fears, and other burdens.”
If you follow our monthly XPAT Spotlight interviews, you might remember our November interview with Claudia, where she tells us about the various healing therapies she’s specialized in. They are much sought after in Europe, and now are available here in California.
In fact, the idea for the book “Tesha Discovers The World” came about through Claudia’s work with children in Family Constellations, established in this particular form by Bert Hellinger.
CAG: You mention the stories in Tesha are about healing and go beyond the regular storytelling. Can you explain this more in detail? [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #4 – A Book for Children, “Tesha Discovers The World”
100 Years Ago the First World War Ended in 1918. What if…?What if the world had emerged out of devastating World War I with peace negotiations that had helped restore world order, create balance among world powers, and had called for cooperation among nations?
Hitler, Stalin, and WW II might never have happened!
On the basis of real history, Magnus Dellwig is creating a fictional world in his novel “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson” and imagines a different outcome in the fateful peace negotiations among the world powers at that time. Follow the account of foreign minister Gustav Stresemann and witness through his eyes how (a different) history unfolds…
Magnus Dellwig’s historical fiction novel is packed with the suspense of diplomatic and political drama. As of now, “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson” is only available in German. Get a taste of the book with the following German synopsis. [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #3 – Historical Fiction Novel “1918 – Wilhelm und Wilson”
How about a spooky science fiction novel for Christmas? Some of us can’t get enough of this kind of stories no matter what the occasion. We just love the suspense of the real or unreal dangers that could possibly expose our planet earth or mankind at large.
So, there you go. Here is the take of Dieter Kermas, long time author for CaliforniaGermans, who has delighted us with his stories and poems over the years and has shared his childhood war memories with us in a series we started posting in 2013. In his new novel, he is taking us on a journey into the unknown future of mankind. Find out for yourself where humankind will end up in his newly published book: “Die Insel der weissen Affen” available on amazon.de
We Asked Him, What Inspired Him to try himself on a science fiction story, after he had just published his historical fiction in 2016 about a WWII romance happening between the enemy lines of Germany and Russia, “Kolja: “Liebe Im Feindesland”.
Dieter Kermas: My ending up writing a science fiction novel was more or less accidental I have to admit. I initially had planned for an adventure novel, that would play out on a South Sea island, but the storytelling suddenly played a trick on me. It seems it almost ‘came alive’ and pulled me into a completely different direction. It took unexpected and unplanned turns and suddenly I was writing a science fiction novel.
CaliforniaGermans: Did you read science fiction as a child? [Read more…] about Xmas Gift Book Tip #2 -“Die Insel der Weissen Affen” (Science Fiction)
Life of a German Teen during WW II. From Enduring Hardship to becoming a U.S. war bride – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
What was it like for a teen to live in Germany during World War II?
Our first Christmas Book Gift Tip tells you all about it. The memoir “Otti Remember” lets you relive those turbulent times as Otti Baulig Ney remembers and allows you to be part of her life’s story.
“Otti Remembers: German WWII Teen Immigrates to America,” offers a rare, first-hand account of those turbulent times. Otti Baulig Ney, 89, from Sutter Creek, Calif., reveals how she endured bombing raids, tuberculosis (TB) and extreme deprivation as a teen during the war years. [Read more…] about X-mas Gift Book Tip #1 – The Memoir “Otti Remembers”
(Ein Drabble* von Merrill Lyew)
Die duftenden Blütenblätter schwebten in der Luft. Eigentlich war es einen Tick zu kalt für die sonnenverwöhnten Kalifornier.
Der Heckenschütze platzierte sich flach auf dem Dach des Hochhauses liegend, und brachte sein automatisches Gewehr in Position. Er hatte es aus dem Armory Depot gestohlen.
Konzentriert zielte er in Nicks Richtung. Nicks schneeweißes Hemd war platschnass vom Schweiß. Kniend fing er an, das Vaterunser zu beten, anstatt sich in Deckung zu bringen.
Sirenen von Polizeifahrzeugen heulten plötzlich laut auf.
Nick schlug die Augen auf und drückte auf den Knopf des Radioweckers.
Oh Amerika, diese elenden Amokläufer, murmelte Nick erleichtert zu sich.
©Merrill Lyew 2018
(* WHAT IS a Drabble? – A drabble is a short work of fiction of around one hundred words.)
Image: Pixabay.com
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As a recent retiree, Merrill Lyew Emanuel now has time for his old and new hobbies. Within his hobbies are writing fan fiction in German, solving chess puzzles, repairing things at home that are not broken, doing a little bit of social media, reading every and anything that looks like a book, traveling a little, and taking snapshots with his mirrorless camera.
Having lived in Germany, Costa Rica, and the USA, he is fluent in the languages of these countries. As a professional geographer, he traveled profusely throughout Latin America. He is living in Southern California for over thirty years. Find more of his work at http://www.merrillius.net
Frühlingserwachen
Die warme Sonne lockt mich zu einem ersten Spaziergang in den Frühling.
Endlich die trüben Tage des nasskalten Winters hinter sich lassen und in der erwachenden Natur die Lebensgeister mit neuer Kraft stärken.
Doch, was ist das?
Die stille Natur empfängt mich mit einem Getöse, dass mir die Sinne schwinden.
Das lärmende Geläute der Schneeglöckchen reißt mich aus meinen tiefen Gedanken. Mit lautem Knall bersten die Knospen der Buche über mir, und ringsum schießen die Krokusse lautstark aus dem Boden. Erschrocken lehne ich mich an den Stamm einer Birke und erhalte einen mächtigen Tritt ins Kreuz. Ach so, ich vergaß, dass die Bäume im Frühling ausschlagen. Vom nahen Teich dringt nervtötendes Tröten des Froschblasorchesters in mein Ohr.
In diesem Moment steuert eine viermotorige Hummel mit ohrenbetäubendem Gebrumm auf meinen Kopf zu. Ich kann gerade noch den Kopf zu Seite nehmen, um einen Aufprall zu entgehen. Ich höre wie betäubt, die Vögel, ihre Liebeslieder in den blauen Himmel brüllen, da lässt mich ein Tackern, wie von einem Maschinengewehr in volle Deckung gehen. Gottlob ist es nur ein Specht, der eine Nisthöhle aushämmert. Ehe ich mich vom Boden aufraffe, höre ich dicht neben meinem Ohr ein verdächtiges Knistern, doch, es ist nur das Gras, das sich wachsend der Sonne entgegenreckt. Ein Eichhörnchen hat eine Nuss seines Wintervorrates wiedergefunden und lässt sie in diesem Augenblick auf meinen Kopf fallen. Jetzt reicht es mir. Ich flüchte.
Ehe ich das schützende Heim erreiche, fegen mir heftige Windstöße Staubfahnen in die Augen. Halb blind übersehe ich die heranrasenden, tiefschwarzen Gewitterwolken, die ohne Vorwarnung ihre Frühlingswassermassen über mich ergießen. Ich vermeine sogar, einige Hagelkörner auf der Haut zu verspüren.
Tief gebeugt und schwankend patsche ich durch die knöcheltiefen Pfützen, um mich in Sicherheit zu bringen. Ein seitlich vor mir einschlagender Blitz erschreckt mich bis ins Mark und der nachfolgende Donner raubt mir vollends das Gehör.
So schwer gezeichnet, schleppe ich mich ins Haus, ziehe die Vorhänge zu und verstehe nach diesem Tag beim besten Willen nicht, wie Poeten liebliche, euphorische Frühlingsgedichte zu schreiben vermögen.
©Dieter Kermas
Image: Pixabay.com
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Dieter Kermas, CaliforniaGermans Author and a true Berliner, turned to writing after he retired from his profession as an engineer. Family and friends urged him to document his many experiences during his childhood in wartime Germany. This made for a collection of various essays which have been published here at CaliforniaGermans. (You can find the stories here on CaliforniaGermans.com by putting “Dieter Kermas” into the Search Box.) Apart from his childhood memories, he is also sharing some of his short stories and poems on CaliforniaGermans. Dieter Kermas, who loves to write, has published his first novel “Kolja. Liebe im Feindesland” in 2016, available on Amazon.com. Some of his work has been included in anthologies.
To get in touch with Dieter Kermas, please send an email with subject line “Dieter Kermas” to californiagermans@gmail.com
