Crossing the Limits 

Crossing the limits

of his imagination,

Her thoughts cruise

along the highways

of his mind,

Colliding in their orbits

with the planets

of consternation,

contemplation

and condemnation. 

Grenzgänger

Wenn sie die Grenzen

seiner Vorstellung überschreiten,⁴

Fahren ihre Gedanken

auf den Schienen⁵

seines Verstands,

Stoßen auf ihren Umlaufbahnen⁶

zusammen mit den Planeten

der Entrüstung,⁷

Besinnung

und Verurteilung.

⁴ « Grenzgänger » literally means « border crosser » and basically deals with gender issues, while more specifically indicating thought processes and prejudices found in most societies. It highlights the preconceived ideas that some men may have when attempting to see the world from a woman’s perspective, pointing out that our minds need to remain flexible, if we wish to understand each other better as men, women, and LGBT.

⁵ « Schienen » in German are literally « tracks » in English, evoking a train of thought or « Gedankenzug » in German. However, in English we « cruise » along « highways, » making for a slightly different take in the English translation.

⁶ The composite word « Umlaufbahnen » encompasses the word « Bahn » or « train, » which is reflective of the train tracks in the first German verse. However, « Umlaufbahn » literally means « orbit » in English, perfectly fitting for the rest of the verse that refers to planets.

⁷ The German terms of « Entrüstung, Besinnung und Verurteilung » all have the same suffix, whereas the contrasting English terms of « consternation, contemplation and condemnation » all have the same prefix and suffix, allowing for the German alliteration to be replicated as a rhyme in the English version, while simultaneously maintaining the meaning of the original.