Nachdichtungen

Nachdichtungen is a German term that translates to "after-poetry" or "re-poetry." It refers to a form of poetic adaptation where a poem is not a direct translation but rather a creative reinterpretation of an original work. The poet takes the essence, themes, or narrative of an existing poem and recreates it in a new language, often with significant stylistic and thematic modifications.

Unlike literal translation, which aims for fidelity to the original text's wording and structure, a Nachdichtung prioritizes conveying the spirit and emotional impact of the source material while adapting it to the target culture and poetic conventions. The nachdichter might introduce new imagery, alter the rhythm and rhyme scheme, or even change the perspective of the original poem. The goal is to produce a new, independent poetic work that stands on its own merits, while still acknowledging its debt to the source.

This practice has a long tradition in German literature, with poets like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Bertolt Brecht producing influential Nachdichtungen. Goethe, for example, created his "West-östlicher Divan" based on Persian poetry, and Brecht adapted works from various traditions. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with "imitation" or "paraphrase," but it generally implies a higher degree of artistic freedom and originality than those terms might suggest. A successful Nachdichtung offers readers a fresh perspective on a familiar or perhaps unknown work, bridging cultural and linguistic divides through creative re-imagining.