H. L. Fischer (1822 – November 5, 1909)
(Henry Lee Fischer) was a
Pennsylvania German language
Pennsylvania Dutch (, or ), referred to as Pennsylvania German in scholarly literature, is a variety of Palatine German, also known as Palatine Dutch, spoken by the Old Order Amish, Old Order Mennonites, Fancy Dutch, and other descendants of G ...
writer and translator. He was born in what was called the Dutch Settlement in
Franklin County,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, United States in 1822, and died in 1909. He worked as a teacher and lawyer, and in later years during a siege of illness, wrote a lot of Pennsylvania German language poetry, including the translation of
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...
's "
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myste ...
", which was published in pamphlet form at his Mapleshade home at York, 1891-07-07.
A few lines from "Der Krab", his translation of "The Raven":
Es war mitternacht un' schaurig,
Ich war schlaf'rig, mud, un traurig
Uewer fiel so alte Bucher
Foll so ganz fergess'ne ne Lehr;
Un' ich hab so halwer g'schlummert -
Hot 's uf e'mol so gebummert -
So wie 's macht wan 's bissel dunnert
-
Das es rappelt an der Dheer;
" 'S isch en B'sucher," sag ich zu mer
Selwert, - "Klopt an meiner Dheer -
Des, allee, isch 's was ich hor."
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fischer, H. L.
American poets in Pennsylvania Dutch
American writers in Pennsylvania Dutch
People from Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania culture
Pennsylvania Dutch people
1822 births
1909 deaths
American male journalists
Pennsylvania Dutch language
Journalists from Pennsylvania
American translators