Saturday 11 May 2024

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.

 

Hans Christian Andersen: 'Veni creator' (1830)

 


“Veni creator”

 

(En sand Tildragelse under den franske Revolution)

 

I Dalen staaer et Kloster hist i den fri Natur;

Med modne Druer slynger sig Ranken om dets Muur,

For Billedet i Nichen hver Vandrer bøier Knæ,

Mens Fuglen synger Hymner høit i det grønne Træ.

 

Bag Hyttens Dør staaer Bonden, han har den halv paa Klem.

Hvidklædt de blege Nonner fra Klosteret skride frem;

Den spæde Haand er bunden, hvor Friheds-Træet groer,

“Veni creator!” synge de Alle høit i Chor.

 

Paa Torvet bølger Vrimlen, en vild, en kulsort Sø.

— For hos sin Gud at leve, maa man paa Jorden døe!

Det er den glade Tanke, som giver Hjertet Mod,

Skjønt bøddel-Øxen damper alt med det røde Blod.

 

“Veni creator!” synge de Nonner. Rædselsdag!

Én Stemme høres mindre ved hvert et Øxeslag.

Det dæmpes meer og meer — hør end den Sidstes Sang! —

Med Eet der bliver stille — man hører Øxsens Klang.

 

 

‘Veni creator’

 

(A true occurrence during the French Revolution*)

 

Deep in the distant valley an abbey rises tall;

With ripe grapes laden, vines there twine up around its wall,

Before the niche’s statue each traveller bends the knee,

While birds sing tuneful anthems up in the green-leafed tree.

 

His cottage door half-open, the peasant sees them go.

The pale nuns in their habits advance in one long row;

Where grows the Tree of Liberty, youthful hands are bound,

‘Veni creator, all sing in chorus – one great sound. 

 

The market square is crowded, a coal-black sea awry.

– To live with God in heaven, on earth one has to die!

That is the thought which cheers them, gives courage, staves off dread,

Although the executioner’s axe is steaming red.

 

‘Veni creator!’ sing the nuns. A day of frightfulness!

At every single axe-blow there now is one voice less.

The chant gets ever fainter – till but one voice is found! –

Then suddenly there’s silence – one hears the axe’s sound.

 

 

* The reference is to the massacre of 16 Carmelite nuns in Compiègne on 17 July 1794.

Friday 10 May 2024

Carl David af Wirsén: 'Böcker och kärlek'


 

Böcker och kärlek

 

När stum du sitter vid ditt arbetsbord 

Och glömmer för en bok den vida jord, 

 

Och hon, som blef ditt allt, sig smyger då 

Att sina armar om sin älskling slå, 

 

Så säg ej buttert: lemna mig i fred! 

Nej, lemna boken du, och gör så med! 

 

Ty gråa luntor har du alla dar, 

Men ej du vet, hur länge hon är qvar, 

 

Och mången man, som sitter ensam nu, 

Så gerna ville störas just som du. 

 

Låt kärlek måla permeboken full 

Med miniatyrer, skinande i gull!

 

Då skall, du arme, om ditt hem blir tomt, 

Den gamla boken stråla helgonfromt, 

 

Och just på sidan, der du stördes då, 

Ett englahufvud vinkande skall stå.

 

 

Books and love 

 

When you sit silent at your desk all day

And for a book the whole wide world gainsay,

 

And she, who was your all, makes furtive haste

To throw her arms around her lover’s waist,

 

Don’t say ill-temperedly: leave me in peace!

No, leave your book instead, your heart release! 

 

For grey tomes you’ll have always everywhere,

But do not know how long she’ll still be there,

 

And many a man now on his own like you

Would love to be disturbed, as you would too.

 

Let love fill every page of your life’s book

With gleaming miniatures in every nook!

 

Then will, poor man, if empty your house be,

Your old book gleam with saintly piety,

 

And on the page where she disturbed your view

An angel’s head stand waving straight at you.

 

 

Thursday 9 May 2024

Catharina Boer: 'Bij het graf van mijn kind'


BIJ HET GRAF VAN MIJN KIND

 

Zelden ruis of storing

op lichtlijnen zon, maan,

echo over koude akker,

sonar naar de diepte.

 

Met geen woord maar taal

vonkend uit opgeslagen beeld,

beweging, ben jij woordvoerster

van alle zwijgenden.

 

Zoals jij,

gedachten verborgen onder mijn huid,

mij steeds weer opent.

 

Zoals ik jou eens

toedekte, afdichtte,

nog altijd toedicht.

 

 

BESIDE MY CHILD’S GRAVE

 

Rarely interference or disruption

on solar, lunar lines of light,

echo over a cold acre,

sonar to the depths.

 

With not a word but language

sparking from a stored image,

movement, you are the spokeswoman

of all who remain silent.

 

Just as you,

thoughts hidden beneath my skin,

open me again and again.

 

Just as I once covered you, dis-

covered you, always still re-

cover you.

 

 

Translated in collaboration with Albert Hagenaars

Poetic Synapses 15

 

  

Johan Ludvig Runeberg: 'Fjäriln och Rosen'


 

Fjäriln och Rosen

 

Rosen lutar blek om kinden hennes tid är all.

Fjäriln domnar under vinden under skurens svall.

När skall fjäriln få tillbaka sina lekar, och sin maka.

När förlåter dvalan åter rosens matta ögonlock?

Barn av sommarn, levde båda, lyckliga som den,

Inga skiften, ingen vådar störde glädjen än

av varandras kyssar sälla.

Utan skuld att vedergälla,

Utan oro båda voro och de måste störas, störas dock!

Hur de dröja, hur de bida, aldrig väckas de.

Kärleken, vid vårens sida kan ej liv dem ge.

Men på kullen där de bärgas

nya sköna rosor färgas

och i doftet, över stoftet;

svärmar nya fjärlars flock!

 

 

The Butterfly and the Rose

 

Pale-cheeked now the rose is drooping, life begins to drain.

Numbed the butterfly is from the wind and squalls of rain.

When will it once more recover skittish flitting and its lover?

When will sleep forgive the rose’s heavy eyelids ere again?

Children of the summer were they, happy, without blame,

Nor did changes, nor did dangers harry joys which came

From their shared and blissful kisses,

Without guilt for past remisses,

Without care they both existed, harried, harried though became!

How they tarry, how they wait, yet neither one revives.

Love, alongside spring, can out of death create no lives.

Where they lie though, earth will nourish,

Beautiful new roses flourish,

And in fragrance, over dust, rise

Hosts of new-born butterflies.

 

 

Tuesday 7 May 2024

Erland Lagerlöf: 'Min Lycka'

 

Dikter 1895

Min lycka

 

Min lycka varade så kort 

och blef mig icke trogen;

flyttfågel var hon och flög bort

om natten öfver skogen.

 

Men ej som andra fåglar fler 

hon vände hem ur verlden,

Hon var den svalan, som föll ner 

och drunknade på färden.

 

 

My joy

 

My joy was brief, refused to stay

and proved an untrue lover;

A migrant bird, she flew away

o’er woods in nighttime cover.

 

But unlike swallows outward bound

that always will come homing,

She was the one that fell and drowned

and never more went roaming.



Monday 6 May 2024

Lars Clausen: 'Sov nu trygt, mit Barn, sov sødt og sagte'

 


Sov nu trygt, mit Barn, sov sødt og sagte

 

Sov nu trygt, mit Barn, sov sødt og sagte,

Fader synger for dig sidste Gang.

Kan min Stemme end ej Gråden magte,

Du dog vist forstår min Vuggesang.

 

Kære, du har mange, mange Gange,

Medens Solen sank og Månen steg,

Lyttet glad til mine simple Sange,

Vandret med mig ved vor gamle Eg.

 

Jeg har båret dig på disse Arme,

Jeg har knuget dig til dette Bryst,

Jeg har elsket med en Faders Varme,

A, Johanne, du mit Liv, min Lyst.

 

Hvor jeg bad i Nætter og i Dage

At Dødsenglen måtte gå forbi.

Falske Håb, forgæves Gråd og Klage,

For den bitre Kalk jeg ej blev fri.

 

Den er tømt, nu reder jeg din Vugge.

Sov, mit Barn, sov sødt i Herrens Fred.

Disse Tårer som min Kind bedugge,

Ofres Mindet om din Kærlighed

 

Men de glade Håb og lyse Drømme,

Som mig fødtes i dit klare Blik,

Bør ej slettes ud af Tårestrømme

Alt for dig dog bedste løsning fik.

 

Jeg, som dog kun ånder for din Lykke,

Tror, at alt er dig til bedste vendt,

Synd og Sorg skal ej dit Hjerte trykke,

Verdens Tomhed har du aldrig kendt.

 

Sov da sødt, nu kalder Gravens Klokker,

Himlens Engle vinker mildt ad dig.

End et Kys på dine gyldne Lokker,

Så farvel, Gud sende Trøst til mig.

 

 

Now sleep tight, my child, sleep oh so sweetly

 

Now sleep tight, my child, sleep oh so sweetly,

Father’s singing one last time for you.

Though my voice through tears is gone completely,

Still to you my lullaby gets through.

 

Dearest, many times you’d gladly harken –

While the sun set and the moon then rose –

To my simple songs, and through our garden

Walk with me to where our old oak grows.

 

In these arms of mine I’ve often borne you,

To this breast of mine have hugged you tight,

Loved you as a father, but now mourn you,

Ah, Johanne, you my life’s delight.

 

Days and nights my prayers were never-failing

That death’s angel just might pass you by.

False my hope, in vain my tears and wailing,

From the bitter cup I could not shy.

 

It’s  been emptied, your bed I stand viewing.

Sleep, my child, in God’s own peace at rest.

These tears that my cheeks now are bedewing

To your love for me I now bequest.

 

All the joyous hopes and the sweet dreaming

You evoked in me with your clear gaze

Should not be erased by my tears’ streaming,

Best for you was this brief sheaf of days.

 

Though your happiness is all I breathe for,

That this for you best was I must own,

Sin and sorrow will your heart not grieve, for

This world’s emptiness you’ve never known.

 

Sweetly sleep, the grave’s bells I hear tolling,

Heaven’s angels wave to you – just see!

One last kiss on your gold locks’ soft scrolling,

Then farewell, may God my comfort be.



Hans Christian Andersen: 'Langelandsk Folkemelodi' (Hun har mig glemt, 1854)

 

Carl Nielsen og Thomas Laub, 'En Snes danske Viser 1917, Anden Samling)

Langelandsk Folkemelodi

 

Hun mig har glemt! Min Sorg hun ei see!

Ung Elskovs Død gjør Hjertet saa Vee!

Jeg vil gaa min lystige Gang,

Solen skinner jo Dagen lang,

Droslen fløjter sin Sang.

 

Hun har mig glemt, min Sorg hun ei see!

Ung Elskovs Død gjør Hjertet saa Vee!

Vinden bærer fra Hjemmets Ø.

Ud! derud paa den aabne Sø.

Alle Griller skal dø!

 

Hun har mig glemt, min Sorg hun ei see!

Ung Elskovs Død gjør Hjertet saa Vee!

Nye Lande jeg snart skal see,

Øjet græd, men nu skal det lee,

Selv om Hjertet har Vee!

 

Hun har mig glemt, min Sorg hun ei see!

Ung Elskovs Død gjør Hjertet saa Vee!

Solen skinner jo Dagen lang,

Maanen gaar taus sin gamle Gang.

Hjertets Sorg bliver Sang!

 

 

Folk melody from Langeland

 

To her I’m air! My grief she can’t know!

When young love dies the heart feels such woe!

I’ll set out with my spirits strong,

See, the sun shines the whole day long,

Thrushes trill their glad song.

 

To her I’m air! My grief she can’t know!

When young love dies the heart feels such woe!

From my home isle the wind blows free;

There, out there, to the open sea.

There my whims must all flee!

 

To her I’m air! My grief she can’t know!

When young love dies the heart feels such woe!

Foreign lands soon I’ll get to know,

Smiles replace all my tears’ sad flow

Though my heart still feels woe!

 

To her I’m air! My grief she can’t know!

When young love dies the heart feels such woe!

See, the sun shines the whole day long

And the silent moon’s course is strong,

The heart’s woe turns to song.



 

DET SKANDINAVISKE SELSKABS CONCERT I CASINO, DEN 24DE NOVEMBER 1853.

Heri: s. 11: Langelandsk Folkemelodi. Hun mig har glemt! min Sorg hun ei see!.

Udgivet 24. november 1853


Printed as Song no. 1 of 'Twelve Songs for Male Voices' (Published by H. Rung, 1854)

Sunday 5 May 2024

Hans Christian Andersen: 'Hvor Skoven dog er frisk og stor' (1850)


 

Hvor Skoven dog er frisk og stor,

 

Hvor Skoven dog er frisk og stor,

Kuk-kuk, kuk-kuk, fallera.

Skovmærker der og Jordbær gror,

Kuk-kuk, kuk-kuk, fallera.

I Træets Bark er Mærke sat,

Der saa jeg dig en maanklar Nat.

Kuk-kuk, Kuk-kuk, fallera,

Kuk-kuk, Kuk-kuk, fallera.

 

I Maaneskin er smukt at gaa,

Kuk-kuk, Kuk-kuk, fallera.

I Skov ved Solskin ligesaa,

Kuk-kuk, Kuk-kuk, fallera.

Af Kukkeren jeg vide faar,

Hvor mange Kys og Leveaar.

Kuk-kuk, kuk-kuk, fallera,

Kuk-kuk, kuk-kuk, fallera.

 

Gør ikke Verden dig for tung,

Kuk-kuk, Kuk-kuk, fallera.

Husk paa, du er kun engang ung,

Kuk-kuk, Kuk-kuk, fallera.

Skovmærker gror, og Jordbær gror,

Og Kukkeren ved naar og hvor.

Kuk-kuk, kuk-kuk, fallera,

Kuk-kuk, kuk-kuk, fallera.

 

 

So big the wood and so alive

 

So big the wood and so alive,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

There strawberries and woodruff thrive,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

A bark cut marks a former tryst,

where I one moonlit night was kissed.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

 

A moonlight walk is sheer delight,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

A sun-drenched wood too such a sight,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

The cuckoo’s call brings to my ears

My stock of kisses and of years.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

 

Don’t make your world too tightly strung,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

Recall, once only you are young,

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

They’re strawberries and woodruff there,

The cuckoo knows both when and where.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, fallera.