(to his Parents 5 April 1943)
Ihr wollt mehr über mein hiesiges Leben wissen: sich eine Zelle vorzustellen, dazu gehört ja nicht viel Phantasie; je weniger, desto richtiger; aber an Ostern brachte die DAZ eine Reproduktion aus Dürers Apokalypse; die habe ich mir aufgehängt und M.s Primeln sind z.T. auch noch da! Von den 14 Stunden des Tages gehe ich etwa drei in der Zelle spazieren, viele Kilometer, außerdem 1/2 Stunde im Hof. Ich lese, lerne, arbeite. Besondere Freude hatte ich wieder an Jer. Gotthelf in seiner klaren, gesunden, stillen Art. Es geht mir gut und ich bin gesund.
DAZ = Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung a national daily newspaper
z.T. = zum Teil partly, in part
die Freude joy
das Ostern Easter
die Phantasie imagination
die Primel primrose
die Stunde hour
die Zelle cell
arbeiten work
aufhängen hang up
bringen/brachte/gebracht bring, (of news, etc.: publish or print)
gehören to belong to; (here ‘require’)
haben/hatte have
lesen read
lernen learn
spazieren gehen to go for a stroll (ironic description of pacing in his cell?)
sich vor/stellen imagine, picture (place something before oneself)
außerdem besides, in addition to
besondere special
dazu to that end, for that purpose
der/die/das (rel. pron) who, which
etwa about
gesund healthy, well, wholesome, sound
hiesig local
je weniger, desto richtiger the less (of that), the more accurate (the image will be)
klar clear
still quiet
wieder again
Jeremias Gotthelf A Swiss protestant pastor and writer whose “38 volumes of prose are characterized by Christian fervor, humor, sincerity, and vigor. Many were written in the Swiss-German idiom.”
M. Maria von Wedemeyer, Bonhoeffer’s fiancée.
You (pl) want to know more about my local life: picture a cell, it doesn’t take much imagination. The less, the better. But on Easter the DAZ published a reproduction of Durer’s apocalypse, which I have hung up for myself and also, M’s primroses are partly still here! Of the 14 hours of the day, I go strolling in the cell about 3, many kilometers, in addition to the 1/2 hour in the yard. I read, learn, work. I was again particularly happy about Jer. Gotthelf in his clear, sound, quiet way. It’s going well for me, and I’m healthy.
I like this selection, don’t you? The way he is keeping a sense of humor, enjoying small things like his “pinup” from the News Magazine and Maria’s flowers, and continuing to work. He continued to work on his Ethics while in prison.
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