Family Feature--Arthur Rehbein (pseudonym Atz vom Rhyn)—In Memory 1867-1952—Germany

(shared and authorized for publication by Gert Knop—a Whispers’ contributor since 2013)

Autumn Joy (English)

Autumn moon - Mother of God spins

white silk threads.

At night time

practise yet the wind

at window shutters.

Laughing colorful flowering May

golden summer's glitter -

already past, already past,

passed like a dream.

But there is no place for woefulness;

every nice hour

rests like a saved treasure

deep in the bottom of heart,

friendly reminder

- even if the mouth is silent -

Eternally young, eternally young

still remains our own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Herbstfreude (German)

Herbstmond. – Mutter Gottes spinnt
Weiße Seidenfäden.
Nächtens übt sich schon der Wind
An den Fensterläden.
Lachend bunter Blütenmai,
Gold'nen Sommers Prangen –
Schon vorbei, schon vorbei,
Wie ein Traum vergangen.

Doch für Wehmut ist kein Platz;
Jede schöne Stunde
Ruht wie ein gesparter Schatz
Tief im Herzensgrunde,
Freundliche Erinnerung
– Mag der Mund auch schweigen –
Ewig jung, ewig jung
Bleibt sie unser Eigen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arthur Rehbein, also known under his pseudonym Atz vom Rhyn, was one of Gert Knop’s grandfather's brothers. He was born on October 26, 1867 in Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and died on February 29, 1952 in Berlin, Germany. His son Max H. Rehbei was a journalist, TV-editor and producer for the NDR (North German Radio).

Arthur Rehbein was a journalist and author. He did extensive travels around the world and published many books including three volumes of poetry. He started as a tradesman but became a jounalist in 1893. He moved to Arnstadt/Thuringia, Germany where he wrote articles for the'Arnstädter Tageblatt', an Arnstadt newspaper. In 1899, he left Arnstadt and became chief editor of the newspaper 'Krefelder Anzeiger'. In 1901, he moved to Cologne and wrote until 1903 for the Cologn nespaper 'Kölner Tageblatt'. But he wanted a change in 1904 and studied art history and natural sciences in Bonn, Germany, Strasbourg. In 1907, he moved to Stuttgart (Germany) and wrote for the 'Württemberger Zeitung), a Stuttgart newspaper. Later he moved to Berlin, Germany and wrote for the newspaper 'Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung'. He wrote stories, radio dramas, poetry and particularly narrations accounts of his travels to foreign countries with a vivid and humorous depiction. Arthur Rehbein was a member of the 'Erfurter Akademie gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften' in Thuringia (Erfurt Academy and was awarded the title 'Geheimer Hofrat' (Privy Counsellor).