Excerpt from: Smith, Alexander. Die deutsche Frau: An Anthology of German Women's Writing. Provo: The Sophie Project, 2012.

Selected Poetry

ANNA LOUISA KARSCH

arsch was born on 1 December 1722 in Silesia, a historical location K in Europe, most of which is now contained within Poland, though small parts remain in Germany. She was a German poet known to her contemporaries as ‘the German Sappho’. She was born the daughter of an innkeeper and, due to her social position, did not receive any form of formal education. She led a humble life scarred by poverty and two unfortunate marriages, in both of which she was a victim of severe abuse. Her literary career began with the memorization of hymns, poems and short pieces of prose, which led to her own creation of poems that were used to celebrate weddings and funerals of her fellow peasants.

Karsch discovered that she had a natural gift, which was quickly noticed by her friends and peers. Her friend Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim1 gave her the title “the German Sappho”. Frederick II eventually agreed to give her a pension and build her a house, which was only realized after his death by his successor Friedrich Wilhelm II in 1787. She lived there until her death on 12 October 1791 in Berlin. Her poetry was widely appreciated and was her path into the leading literary circles of Berlin. In a world of learned poets and critics, she remained a woman of humble existence, paying tribute to her humble upbringing and education in sewing and cooking. When her children were young she supported their upbringing by selling her poetry.

The following selections of poetry greatly represent the Karsch in her humble upbringing; this can be seen in both the topics that she discusses and the language that she uses. Karsch uses her poetry to tell the story of her life and the lives of women like her. Her poetry seems in many ways to be an unpublished and uncollected journal of her life, and we can follow her in her thoughts and feelings as she wrote each individual piece. In one of the following pieces, Kenner von dem saphischen Gesange!, we are able to understand the emotions and experiences of a woman, such as Karsch, who is in an abusive marriag, and how trapped she really felt. For her there was no way out.

1 A German poet who saw the success of his poetry put to music. Much of his work his preserved today in Halberstadt, comprising one of the oldest literary museums in Germany in existence today. Excerpt from: Smith, Alexander. Die deutsche Frau: An Anthology of German Women's Writing. Provo: The Sophie Project, 2012.

It is a deeply emotional piece that represents a little bit of us as we find ourselves in situations, from which we believe we cannot escape. It is important to consider how each of these pieces may reflect a chapter of our own lives, and understand what we can learn from this great poet.

SOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

Karsch, Anna Louisa. Gedichte: Nach der Dichterin Tode herausgegeben von ihrer Tochter Caroline Luise von Klencke. Nachdruck der Ausgabe von 1792. Karben: Verlag Petra Wald, 1996. Print.

Karsch, Anna Louisa. Neue Gedichte von Anna Louisa Karschin. Nachdruck der Ausgabe von 1772. Karben: Verlag Petra Wald, 1996. Print.

Kord, Susanne. Women Peasant Poets in Eighteenth-Century England, Scotland and Germany. New York: Camden House, Boydell & Brewer Inc., 2003. Print.

Excerpt from: Smith, Alexander. Die deutsche Frau: An Anthology of German Women's Writing. Provo: The Sophie Project, 2012. ______ANNA LOUISA KARSCH – AN DIE CHARTENSPIELER

An die Chartenspieler1

ANNA LOUISA KARSCH

MISCHT IMMER EURE BLÄTTER, spielet Gedankenvoll, und hoffend fühlet Die Freuden des Gewinnes ganz; Mein Geist, zu stoisch2 und zu trocken, Ließ nie die Charten3 sich verlocken, Und hüpfte nie zu einem Tanz!

Zu steif den Fuß im Tact zu lenken4, Zu roh, beym Spiele was zu denken, Blieb ich in beyden ungelehrt; Ich kenne nicht der Blätter Nahmen, Weiß nicht, was Buben sind und Damen5, Weiß nichts vom Blatt, dem Sieg gehört.

Nur Bücher hab ich liebgewonnen, Darinn gelesen, nachgesonnen, Selbst eins gemacht6, so schlecht es war! Nichts fragt ich da nach Spiel und Tänzen, Ich las, wodurch sich Helden cränzen, Und träumte Schlachten und Gefahr!

1 Karschin, Anna Louise. Auserlesene Gedichte von Anna Louise Karschin. Bey George Ludwig Winter: Berlin, 1764. Chartenspieler: Kartenspieler 2 stoisch: stoic, phlegmatic 3 Charten: die Karten. Most likely pronunciation of „ch“ would be the affricate [kx] as remains in Bavarian German today. 4 im Takt lenken: to keep rhythm, to keep time with the feet 5 was Buben sind und Damen: Jacks and Queens 6 gemacht: geschrieben Excerpt from: Smith, Alexander. Die deutsche Frau: An Anthology of German Women's Writing. Provo: The Sophie Project, 2012. ______ANNA LOUISA KARSCH – AN DIE CHARTENSPIELER

Ich ging, auf selbst gebauten Wällen, Ließ sich mein Volk in Ordnung stellen

Und that, als wie ein General; Warf Schanzen7 auf, schoß Ziegelstücke8, Zog schlechterdings mich nicht zurücke, Sprach laut wenn ich den Sturm befahl!

War eine Vestung9 eingenommen, Dann ließ ich meine Völker kommen, Drang tiefer ein in Feindes Land, Marschirte listig hin und wieder Hieb viele tausend Feinde nieder, In allen Nesseln die ich fand.

Da lagen dann die kleinen Leichen, Gefällt von meinen Starken Streichen, Bey tausenden gestreckt vor mir; Stolz dacht ich mich als Ueberwinder Ich war ein Kind, und wie die Kinder Thun gar zu oft im Alter wir!

O meine Phantasie ist heftig, Schon dazumahl war sie geschäftig, Als ich noch meine Heerde trieb10; Itzt11 aber sieht sie andre Schlachten Denkt die, die sich unsterblich machten, Und den, der sich unsterblich schrieb!

7 die Schanze: entrenchment [military] 8 das Ziegelstück: brick or clay pieces 9 Vestung: die Festung; fortification, stronghold [mil.] 10 Heerde trieb: Herde treiben; to herd sheep & cows 11 Itzt: jetzt