By: Kristin Baumgartner, Archival Researcher
This is a poem written by Eve Gill's aunt Lisi on March 13, 1939, just before Eve left Vienna for the UK on a Kindertransport.
Aunt Lisi was Eve Gill's (née Elfriede Gottfried) mother's aunt with whom her mother stayed when she moved from Slovakia to Vienna. Aunt Lisi was famous in the family for her poems which she used to read at family parties. Everyone would go quiet and listen.
The poem is bitter sweet - happy for Eve to leave Vienna and be saved but sad to stay behind. She begs her not to forget those whom she leaves behind and Eve never has, she still treasures this book with Aunt Lisi's poem which became her diary.
Lisi perished in Theresienstadt with many of Eve's Slovak relatives.
Wien 13/3. 1939
Elfi, auch du gehst heute fort von mir
Und ich ich bleibe wieder hier!
Ich möcht noch sagen ganz allein
Doch nein, wir sind ja doch zu zwein!
Die Jugend bröckelt sich nur ab
Und unser wartet jetzt das Grab!
Doch ziehe mutig in die Welt
Ich wünsche das Glück sich dir gesellt
Gesundheit sei nur dein Begleiter
bleibe nur fröhlich, gut und heuter,
Der liebe Gott hält schirmend seine Hand
Er möge weben schirmend über dich ein Band
Das Band der Liebe zu den deinen
die trauernd heute dich beweinen.
Doch Freudenträ(h)nen sollen es nur sein,
wenn wir auch bleiben ganz allein!
Deine Tante Lisi für immer
Elfi, you too are going away from me today
And I stay behind alone
But no, we are still the two of us!
The young people break away
for us only the grave awaits!
But venture bravely out into the world
I wish that luck is on your side
may health be your companion
stay happy, good and cheerful
God may shield you with his hand
and weave a shielding bond over you
the bond of love for your loved ones
who are crying with grieve today
but may these be tears of joy
even if we stay behind alone!
Forever your Aunt Lisi
