Poem of the Week, week 13: Kate Næss

MAGIC When you come the closed room opens letting in the seas. Your spell touches the walls and turns them into glowing vaults. When you stay the stars are given wings of fire silently sinking in timeless sun-night taking root in the ocean bed. When you leave a gust of invisible wind blows through the room. The walls collapse and damp stars rise and unfold fugitive wings. Translated by Annabelle Despard

TROLLDOM Når du kommer åpnes det lukkede rom og slipper sjøene inn. Med trolldom rører du veggene og forvandler dem til lysende hvelv. Når du blir får stjernene vinger av ild som synker stille i tidløs solnatt og slår rot i havets bunn. Når du går blafrer usynlig vind gjennom rommet. Veggene faller sammen og fuktige stjerner stiger og folder seg ut med flyktende vinger.

From Kate Næss (1938–1987), Billedskrift, Aschehoug, Oslo 1962. The English translation comes from The Routledge Handbook of International Beat Literature, A. Robert Lee, 2007.

Poem of the Week. 52 poems through the year

From the time when the earliest texts were recorded in runic inscriptions, poetry has had a strong position in Norway. By introducing a new poem each week throughout 2019, we aim to highlight the quality and breadth of Norwegian poetry. «Poem of the Week» presents 52 poems, inspired by the changing seasons and the passing of the year. The selection has been made by Annette Vonberg and Tone Carlsen, and consists of poems from the earliest handwritten manuscripts up until today, with a special emphasis on contemporary poetry.

Poem of the Week, week 13: Kate Næss "Magic"

Take part in a weekly journey through 52 poems by authors from Norway throughout 2019 – Norway’s year as Guest of Honour.

Poem of the Week. 52 poems through the year