Knud Sørensen: 'Om historien'

 

CONCERNING HISTORY

 

the salt meadow at aggersborggaard

 

 

Stop somewhere in

history. See

the salt meadow, always

the same salt meadow, here

the grass survives, here

the blades are led back

through rumbling digestive tracts

and again become

blades. Stop

somewhere in history, see

burning buildings,

burning human beings,

see

the fields rise up

burning

also see

the salt meadow

always the same

salt meadow. Stop

somewhere in history,

see

a geometrical fortified stronghold,

and geometrical wills,

see

the fall of geometry into

new chaotic ages, see

also the salt meadow,

always the same

salt meadow. Stop

somewhere in history,

see

villeins, copyholders,

see freeholders

burst out of the herd

on its way

towards individual

loneliness

see also the salt meadow,

always the same

salt meadow. Stop

somewhere in history,

see

a fragile image,

carefully preserved,

soundlessly inhabited, a national refuge

for game, a refuge

for impossible dreams, see also

the salt meadow, always the same

salt meadow, see

the smell of sedges

lady’s smock, gentian,

see

the call of curlews from a thin

blue sky,

stop

and grasp the sound

with both hands.