by Edith Sodergran
Violet twilights I carry within me from my ancient past,
naked virgins playing with galloping centaurs...
Yellow sunshine days with bright glances,
only sunbeams pay proper homage to a tender female body...
No man has yet arrived, has ever been, will ever be...
A man is a false mirror that the sun’s daughter hurls against the cliffs in rage,
a man is a lie, incomprehensible to pure children,
a man is a rotten fruit rejected by proud lips.
Beautiful sisters, come high up to the strongest rocks,
we are all fighting women, heroines, horsewomen,
eyes of innocence, brows of heaven, rosy faces,
heavy breakers and soaring birds,
we are the least expected and the darkest red,
tigerspots, taut strings, fearless stars.
From:
1916, Dikter
Copyright ©:
Translated from the Finland-Swedish by Stina Katchadourian




