One of the many, many pleasant surprises in Weimar is the existence of a museum dedicated to Ginkgo Biloba. Today the plant is primarily known as a memory strengthener. Unfortunately I threw away the last bottle I bought. It had passed its expiry date. I kept forgetting to take it. Oops!
Goethe, inspired by the heart-shaped leaf, associated the plant with friendship and dedicated his poem to his friend (and lover?) Marianne von Villemer. However, it was a friendship not fated to last. They saw each other for the last time on 23.09.1815, only 8 days after he had read a draft of the poem to her.
Something tells me that Ginkgo Biloba isn’t all it’s made out to be. The poem’s lovely though.
In my garden’s care and favour
From the East this tree’s leaf shows
Secret sense for us to savour
And uplifts the one who knows.
Is it but one being single
Which as same itself divides?
Are there two which choose to mingle
So that each as one now hides?
As the answer to such question
I have found a sense that’s true:
Is it not my songs’ suggestion
That I’m one and also two?
Translated by John Whaley
Lizzy's Literary Life (Volume One) 
Lovely post.
lovely poem ,all tht best stu
I would like to use this translation in a blog I am writing about my fascination with a ginkgo tree in Salisbury as I am a walking artist. I am exhibiting 2 prints as part of the show being curated by artist Prudence Maltby at the The Young Gallery in March and I love the idea of the self/ leaf lobe, 2 as 1….could you let me know via email and the translation will be noted by John Whaley. Thank you.