OBSTFELDER, Sigbjørn




Sommer!


Væv mig en kaabe, som rødmer,

spind den af taage, knyt den af straaler,

dyp den i nellikeblod!


Væv mig en kjole, som skjælver –

aspebladvævet, dugperleknappet,

heftet med spindelvævtraad!


Sy mig et belte, som funkler –

lokkende lygtmænd, hoppende ildblus

funkle paa himmelblaa grund!


Sy mig saa noget, der hvisker!

smilende spænder, sommerfuglvinger,

– legende kolibrisko!


Summer!


Weave me a coat that turns crimson,

spin it from mist, knit it from rays of light,

dip it in carnation's blood!


Weave me a dress that trembles –

woven from aspen leaves, stitched with cobweb threads,

buttoned with pearls of dew!


Make me a belt that glitters –

alluring will-o'–the-wisp, leaping flames

sparkle on sky-blue soil!


Sew me something that whispers!

smiling buckles, summer bird wings

– whimsical humming bird shoes!


Translated by Nadia Christensen





Cease thy play


Be mute, song-notes,

Be mute, thou wondrous music

of night,

so the words can ring out,

can trickle like poison

forth from my soul.

For I yearn to be delivered from suffering.

Cease thy play,

thou nature, who uprearest thee

mutely above mortal destinies.

I will hearken to the word within me

and find what is true.

Soon will the morning be here

with its wonderful sun,

and its throbbing life,

– then will the words die upon my lips.

Therefore night,

lure them forth,

these dancing words, these dying words,

Upon thy black ground shall my words

flash.


Everything is so strange


I look at the white sky.

I look at the grey-blue clouds.

I look at the blood-red sun.

So this is the Earth.

So this is the home of the planets.


A raindrop!


I look at the tall houses,

I look at the thousand windows,

I look at the distant church spire.


So this is the Earth.

So this is the home of mankind.

The grey-blue clouds gather. The sun disappears.

I look at the well-dressed gentlemen,

I look at the smiling ladies,

I look at the stooping horses.


The grey-blue clouds become so heavy.

I look, I look …

I must have come to the wrong planet

Everything is so strange