Today's poem is by the Dutch writer Ida Gerhardt

DE PROFUNDIS

Even though swans we had never yet seen,

should on the water we chance to descry them,

oh, we would find ourselves joy-stricken by them –

laughing and crying maybe.

Even though swans we had never yet seen,

wings thrashing loudly, were they to fly over,

oh, we would see off this darkness for ever –

finally break free maybe.