Hans Christian Andersen: 'Hjertesuk af en udtjent Damekjole'

 

Hjertesuk af en udtjent Damekjole

 

Der var en Tid, da jeg var ganske ny –

Ak ja! det var de gode gamle Dage.

Da var jeg ogsaa med i denne By;

Men nu i Krogen hænger jeg tilbage.

 

I gyldne Sale svandt min Blomstervaar:

Nu skal maaskee jeg snart i Vartou bygge;

Hvor Krusemynterne bag Ruden staaer,

Jeg veier Livets Solskin og dets Skygge.

 

Alt dreier Hanen sig paa Petri Spiir,

Snart briste i mig mine skjøre Traade –

Dog ei jeg døer, – forvandlet i Papir,

Jeg bliver – – ja, det er den store Gaade.

 

 

Heartfelt sigh of a worn-out dress

 

There was a time when I was very new –

Ah yes! Those were the days, ere I grew older.

Then on the town I sometimes went off too,

Now on my hook I’m left behind to moulder.

 

In golden halls my blooming spring was spent:

Now I may soon end my last days at Vartou;

Where spearmint plants by window panes are pent

I weigh up both life’s sunlight and its shadow.

 

On Petri’s spire the weathercock greets dawn,

My frail threads soon will break, though that’s no stigma

For I’ll not die – as paper once reborn,

I shall be – well now, that’s the great enigma.