Monday, 1 October 2012

Tomas Tranströmer poem, from 'Paths' (1973)


Skiss i oktober

Bogserbåten är fräknig av rost. Vad gör den här så långt inne i landet?
Den är tung, slocknad lampa i kylan.
Men träden har vilda färger. Signaler till andra stranden!
Som om några ville bli hämtade.

På väg hem ser jag bläcksvamparna skjuta upp genom gräsmattan.
De är de hjälpsökande fingrarna på en
som snyftat länge för sig själv i mörkret där nere.
Vi är jordens.


Sketch in October

The tow-boat is freckled with rust. What is it doing here so far inland?
It is a heavy, doused lamp in the cold.
But the trees have wild colours. Signals to the far shore!
As if there were those who would be fetched.

On my way home I see ink caps pushing up through the lawn.
They are the help-seeking fingers of one
who has long sobbed to himself down there in the dark.
We are of the earth.

1 comment:

R Lundberg said...

I really liked your translation of "Skiss i oktober". Maybe not the most difficult poem to translate but you captured the moments well.
I would like to add a translation of "Sena maj", from same collection "Paths", to my own blog http://poetrywithblues.blogspot.se/. Can you help me?

Kind regards
Roland Lundberg