Sunday, 12 May 2024

Tove Ditlevsen: 'En dag i december'



 

EN DAG I DECEMBER

 

Nu drejer en brændende klode

om solens blåtindrende kugle,

og Vinternatsmørket sænker sig tæt

med stjerner som tårer et væsen har grædt,

hvis sorg ingen stjerner kan skjule.

 

Og han der står udenfor kloden

og drejer den rundt med sin finger –

hans ansigt er koldt som den tindrende sne,

og det er et ansigt de aldrig skal se,

som tvivlen gav stækkede vinger.

 

Men vi der er småbitte kloder

af øm og begrænset viden

skal lukke os trygt om en jordisk tro,

mens den, der higer mod stjernernes ro

går vild mellem rummet og tiden.

 

 

A DAY IN DECEMBER

 

A planet that’s burning now orbits

the sun’s with its sphere’s blue-tinged glitter,

And winter night’s darkness downwards has crept

with stars just like tears that a creature has wept,

whose sorrow no stars can keep hidden.

 

And he who stands outside the planet

and spins it around with his finger –

his face is as cold as the glittering snow

and this is a face that they never shall know,

and whose doubt-pinioned wings make him linger.

 

But we who are just tiny planets

of knowledge that’s touchy and harnessed

seek safety enclosed behind earthly faith’s bars

while anyone seeking the peace of the stars

gets lost between space and time’s vastness.

 

 

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