Tuesday 4 June 2024

Lennart Sjögren: 'Nattskärran'

 



THE NIGHTJAR

 

The nightjar I’ve known for a long time

is also sitting here tonight

our eyes meet –

mine are so fearful

hers are like stones

and like stones know everything without speaking

she presumably knows much more

than she says.

 

I ask for a moment of silence so as

to get closer to her

so that her lips which are pointed and cold

will meet mine.

But then she flaps up like she did before

and begs to be excused such measures.

 

Nothing has changed

her life is claws and wings

and what else she is I do not know.


To see the original poem, go to here.



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