nightless night
the sun dives
drinks angel’s wine
rises
red
the sky opens
intoxicates
I write memories
wakeful flames
nightless night
flimmers restlessly
I pass by
dance over the abyss
search in the wilderness
fill my cup
with songs
no one any longer recollects
carry my night
to the south wind
leaves fall
from a dreamt tree.
Translated by Annabelle Despard
nattløs natt
sola dykker
drikker englenes vin
stiger
rød
himmelen åpner seg
beruser
skriver minnene
de våkne flammene
nattløs natt
glimter urolig
jeg drar forbi
danser over avgrunnen
leter i ødemark
fyller karet med sanger
ingen lenger husker
bringer min natt
til sønnavinden
bladene faller
fra drømt tre.
*
ijahis idja
beaivi buokčala
eŋgeliid viinna juhkat
badjána
ruoksadin
albmi rahpasa
gárihuvan
čálán muittuid
gohcci dolaid birra
ijahis idja
šealgá ráfehisvuoðain
mátkkoštan meaddil
dánsestan heavuid badjel
lean dáid ávdagasaid
oktonas ohcci
deavddán giissá lávllagiiguin
ii oktage šat muitte
doalvvun idjan
máttila ovdii
niegu muoras
gahččet lasttat
From Synnøve Persen (born 1950), ruoná rieggá vuol váccasit – under grønn ring vandre, tospråklig diktsamling, den norske gjendiktningen i samarbeid med Erling Kittelsen, Aschehoug, Oslo 2017.
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.