A few more minimalist poems by Heidi von Wright from the same collection as before: dörren öppnar rummet (the door opens the room); from a section entitled se fram emot att se tillbaka (look forward to looking back). Compared with some poets, von Wright is relatively easy to translate. There is only one major problem in the fifth poem here. That is that the expression for "nowadays" is "nuförtiden" (one word). But if you space them as "nu för tiden..." it can have the meaning of "time bears / carries...". I haven't fully thought out how to tackle this pun. But, anyway :
***
in something else than silence
this day is not like others.
this day is another.
thinking
how words sound
when words reach
you
***
thermal movement
it can happen that something heats up.
it can happen that what is at boiling point bubbles.
it can happen that it erupts.
up into.
up to a surface.
a pillar of steam.
***
length of life
if I must.
who is it I must.
must prove myself to.
***
more details
waves beat against the face.
appearance remains intact.
in daylight.
without cutlery.
everyone eats from my plate.
***
disturbed sense of time
days are night nowadays.
now time bears me forward.
Today is tomorrow nowadays.
now time bears you forward.
***
possible changed movement
multipying mass by speed seeking inertia.
thinking about the ability to retain movements.
your relative speed is zero.
not to worry.
everything moveable has inertia.
don't worry.
your relative speed is zero.
***
jets of water
a touch.
breath around a neck.
someone looking through two eyes.
into two eyes.
***
salt and strings
listening to shortwave radio.
two stones. two eggs.
dreaming in the little room.
in the dream the room is also little.
why don't you let go of me.
or
is it me who cannot get out.
*******
Translated from Swedish by Eric Dickens
***
in something else than silence
this day is not like others.
this day is another.
thinking
how words sound
when words reach
you
***
thermal movement
it can happen that something heats up.
it can happen that what is at boiling point bubbles.
it can happen that it erupts.
up into.
up to a surface.
a pillar of steam.
***
length of life
if I must.
who is it I must.
must prove myself to.
***
more details
waves beat against the face.
appearance remains intact.
in daylight.
without cutlery.
everyone eats from my plate.
***
disturbed sense of time
days are night nowadays.
now time bears me forward.
Today is tomorrow nowadays.
now time bears you forward.
***
possible changed movement
multipying mass by speed seeking inertia.
thinking about the ability to retain movements.
your relative speed is zero.
not to worry.
everything moveable has inertia.
don't worry.
your relative speed is zero.
***
jets of water
a touch.
breath around a neck.
someone looking through two eyes.
into two eyes.
***
salt and strings
listening to shortwave radio.
two stones. two eggs.
dreaming in the little room.
in the dream the room is also little.
why don't you let go of me.
or
is it me who cannot get out.
*******
Translated from Swedish by Eric Dickens