A Lifetime

"The birds praise the Lord by extending their wings in the sky. The fish would multiply if He asked them again. And what does His most beloved creature do? What does Man do?

Caspar David protects himself against the preacher's questions, hiding behind his sketchbook. The faithful remain in silence avoiding the Reverend's precise gaze. He delights in the pause. He lets the sea speak. After the whistling sound of a gusting wind his voice resounds. He looks at the back of the room and yells: Master Friedrich, what do you do to praise the Lord? Caspar David reddens. How can the preacher know his name?

He squints, half closing his eyes, and realises that he is in front of the great poet Kosegarten, a friend of his drawing master. One day, he saw them together at the academy and noticed the way the Reverend gesticulated. If electric fans had been invented then, the little apprentice would have used them to evoke this image. Instead, he thinks of a flour mill, which is also appropriate.

The believers turn their heads to look at the student they've seen painting boats many times. All eyes are waiting for an answer. The youth takes courage and murmurs in a trembling voice: I paint."


Ada Castells. Fragment from her book ' A lifetime'


Ada is a friend of mine. I am translating some fragments of her books for her website

I have never translated literary texts before, so I'd be very grateful for your feedback. xx