Schack Staffeldt: 'Ved Söen'

 

Ved Söen

 

— Og medens de Bölger fare afsted,

Mig synes at ogsaa jeg skulde med,

Og stirrende ned i billedfuld Söe,

I underlig Længsel vil jeg bortdöe.

 

Mig vinker dybt i den stille Azur

En anden Himmel, en anden Natur,

Æteriskt og idealiskt er Alt,

Ligt Tingenes allerförste Gestalt.

 

Mit förste Jeg fra det reene Blaae,

Mit reenere Selv tilhvidsker mig saa:

Hvi skilte du dig fra mig, fra mig?

Og dog hvor elsker, hvor elsker jeg dig!

 

Da blir jeg saa underlig bange og öm,

Min Aand sig lösner til meere end Dröm:

Mig synes at Guder og Mennesker gaae

Omfavnede, dybt i det reene Blaae.

 

 

By the lake

 

– And while all the waves are borne off apace,

I feel as if I there too had my place,

And staring into the image-filled lake,

In some strange longing my parting would take.

 

From still azure depths me greeting, I spy

A different nature, different sky;

All is ethereal there and ideal,

Like things in their pristine form more real.

 

My very first I from the purest blue,

My once purer Self then whispers anew:

Why did you leave me, just leave me and go?

Oh, how I do love you, I love you so!

 

How strangely afraid and aching I seem,

My spirit escapes to more than a dream:

There appear to be gods and humans who

Embrace and mingle in depths of pure blue.