trans. of
Aschenglorie (1964) by Paul Celan from Atemwende

 

Fair after
your trembling
hands at the cross.

Once upon a time: here,
a drop
from
an oar-fin,
submerged
and truing,
broke through.

(On the highest
sail, then,
head in the clouds,
knotted in two, when
the full
moon rosed to meet us,
I sewed myself so into you and into you)

​

Fair-
Gloria after

all your hands
tied to the cross.

​

The you that was, from the east come, aft-
cast, dread.

​

But this
remembers

The you
that was here
Once upon a time.

Let none
testify for
this testament.