Tove Ditlevsen: 'Regn'

 

REGN

 

Venner der gik og venner der kom,

regn over sortegrå tage,

tårer der drypper og falder så blødt,

én du har elsket, og én du har mødt,

da der ikke var lykke tilbage.

 

Regndråbers fald mod din åbnede hånd,

våde og skinnende blade,

rendestensfloder og hastende skridt,

et barn går imod dig, men er ikke dit,

og blir borte i barndommens gade.

 

Tungsind har lyd af dryppende regn

og slukker hvert lys, der brænder –

skumringen selv får et vemodsskær,

famler bedrøvet i parkens trær

med benede oldingehænder.

 

Snart skal du sove så sødt, så dybt,

var du mon éngang vågen?

Dryppende dråber fra modent korn,

dagen er borte – nymånens horn

skinner fortabt gennem tågen.

 

Gråden er stilnet – stjernerne står

som klokker, der svinger og ringer –

Den du har mistet er lysende nær,

sindet er blødt som et regnbueskær –

natten har veldige vinger.

 

 

RAIN

 

Friends that went out and friends that came in,

roofs charcoal grey from the raining,

tears that drip down and that fall soft and wet,

one you have loved and then one you have met

when no happiness still was remaining.

 

Falling of rain droplets onto your palm,

leaves that gleam bright from rain’s spraying

swift-flowing gutters and steps on the trot,

a child that approaches, but yours it is not

and in childhood’s street ends up by straying.

 

Deep-seated gloom sounds like rain as it drips

and puts out each light that’s burning –

twilight itself has an air of unease

mournfully gropes through the park’s green trees

with bony old hands and its yearning.

 

Soon you’ll be sleeping, so sweet, so deep,

were you awake once, ever?

Droplets that drip from the ripened corn

gone is the day now – the new moon’s horn

shines through a mist it can’t sever.

 

Weeping has ceased now – stars on high stand

like bells that are swinging and ringing –

Now is your lost love so radiantly near,

soft is your mind like a rainbow so sheer –

night on huge pinions is winging.