Poem of the Week, week 34: Einar Økland

MEMORY No one except you. No one except me. Clouds and grass. An undertow maybe in the distant air the strangers breathe in – But you were here with me. And I was here with you. And now we are gone. We became a swirl that never expires. We became a horizon in a droplet. And the clouds drift and the grass is trodden down. And no one else but us takes care of this. Translated by May-Brit Akerholt

MINNE Ingen utan deg. Ingen utan meg. Skyer og gras. Eit dragsug kanskje i den fjerne lufta dei framande pustar i – Men her hos meg var du. Og her hos deg var eg. Og nå er vi borte. Ein kvervel som aldri forgår blei vi. Ein horisont i ein drope blei vi. Og skyene driv og graset blir nedtrakka. Og ingen andre enn oss tar vare på dette.

From Einar Økland (1940), Blå roser, Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo 1983.

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 34: Einar Økland "Memory"

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