Logik (poem)

Translated by Natias Neutert[1] Logik was written in the time after the turn of the century, and first published 1912 under Joachim Ringelnatz’s real name Hans Böttcher in his book Die Schnupftabakdose (The snuffbox).

„Because it is inconceivable in our real world that a single hair of a mustache could ever be detected in seawater.“[3] In face of all logic, impossible things happen.

The theme of the two-stanza poem is an absurd observation, made by an only slightly hinted, unspecified lyrical self (possibly a sailor—a role often used by Ringelnatz on stage.

[4] The observation itself is made at night from a ship, the object is a single hair of a Swahili’s mustache, floating in the sea.

From today's point of view we find this poem resembles those of Christian Morgenstern in their bizarre nature.