The Crystal Forest

The Crystal Forest. Poems. Borgen 1992. Cover: Elisabeth Toubro

THE SIGN OF REMEMBRANCE

The stars go on living in the daytime
as a glint behind your closed eyes
as a sign on your forehead
The dreamt tree flowers
without any formula for beauty
I put my hand on your shoulder
slide two fingers up your neck
past your ear
Trace between centuries
an orange scale of voices
I write our time
from coal to diamond
Soon I’ll get fire
a flame
that will spring up between us
– A face that can shine.

The Crystal Forest 1992, translated by Roger Greenwald

Pia Tafdrup
is a poet, writer and a member of The Danish Academy.

Honours include:

The Swedish Academy’s Nordic Prize 2006
The Soeren Gyldendal Award, 2005
The Nordic Council’s Literature Prize, 1999

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