Wednesday, 1 July 2020

B.S. Ingemann (1789-1862)

Den store Seilads

Der seiler den hen i Natten
I Himmeldybets Favn
Stjernernes Luftskib-Flaade.
En Verden er hver en Stavn.

Jeg staaer paa Jordskibsdækket;
Jeg seiler i samme Sø.
Deiligt seiler blandt Stjerner
Jordens svømmende Ø.

Den flyvende Verdensflaade
Har mange Sjæle ombord:
Ingen af alle de Sjæle
Dog saae hvorhen de foer.

Men himmelhøit gaaer Seiladsen;
Hver Seiler Havnen naaer.
Snekkerne løbe ei paa Grund,
Og ingen Sjæl forgaaer.


The great voyage

Through all the nighttime heaven’s
Profound embrace there plough
The air-ships of the star-fleet.
A world in every prow.

I stand on earth-ship’s foredeck;
I sail the selfsame seas.
Among the stars, earth’s island
sails too with greatest ease.

On board the airborne world-fleet
A host of souls are found:
Yet not one single soul there
Saw whither they were bound.

But each will reach safe haven,
The nighttime heaven crossed.
No bark will run aground there
And not one soul be lost.

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