EDITH SÖDERGRAN (TRANSLATED FROM THE SWEDISH BY AVERILL CURDY) A Life That the stars are adamant everyone understands— but I won’t give up seeking joy on each blue wave or peace below every gray stone. If happiness never comes, what is a life? A lily withers in the sand and if its nature has failed? The tide washes the beach at night. What is the fly looking for on the spider’s web? What does a dayfly make of its hours? (Two wings creased over a hollow body.) Black will never turn to white— yet the perfume of our struggle lingers as each morning fresh flowers spring up from hell. The day will come when the earth is emptied, the skies collapse and all goes still— when nothing remains but the dayfly folded in a leaf. But no one knows it.
First Published in POETRY (March 2012)
“but I won’t give up seeking joy on each blue wave
or peace below every gray stone.” Epitomizes the mystery of life, values and understanding with simple poetic brushstrokes.
I know I've said this before, but I so love the translation poems that you share. 'If happiness never comes, what is a life?' Isn't that always the question. . .'each morning fresh flowers / spring up from hell.' Wow!