Ursula Spindler reads “Betrifft: Erster Schnee” by Mascha Kaléko

My grandaunt lived in this quirky house full of books and art. It was beautiful. Especially in the winter when in the evening, we would sit at the dining table, play scrabble and enjoy the Christmas lights while it was being dark and cold outside. My grandaunt loved Mascha Kaléko. The edition of “Das lyrische Stenogrammheft” I am reading from used to be hers. Through reading in her books, I feel close to her. From time to time I find a note or a newspaper article which she left in there. Sometimes it makes me smile, sometimes it makes me cry.

I chose “Betrifft: Erster Schnee” because of its mindfulness. Living in a world that is chaotic and brutal, I think most of us can relate to the wish to be in a quiet and peaceful place for a while. To not look at our smartphones or laptops and just enjoy the moment, the presence of people we love, the smell of good food, the cosiness of a nice, warm blanket or the beauty and silence of snow.

Kaléko, Mascha. Das lyrische Stenogrammheft. Kleines Lesebuch für Große. Hamburg: Rowohlt Verlag, 1956. New edition published by dtv in 2016.