Thursday 12 April 2018

Nightdress

by Pia Tafdrup

The nightdress you want to be buried in
hangs white and newly ironed
on a hanger in the closet,
the sight
almost makes me cry,

even though you’re alive, mother,
standing next to me
to show me that nightdress,
that looks most of all like a wedding dress
under the transparent plastic.

You raise the nightdress to the light
like a mirror for death
I can’t see into,
when you are with me.

I have to imagine
you lifeless
in this nightdress, see my life
without you,
but I cannot now.


NATKJOLEN


Natkjolen, du vil begraves i,
hænger hvid og nystrøget
på en bøjle i skabet,
synet
får mig næsten til at græde,

selv om du er i live, mor,
står ved siden af mig
for at vise mig netop den natkjole,
der mest af alt ligner en brudekjole,
under den gennemsigtige plastik.

Du løfter natkjolen frem i lyset
som et spejl for døden,
jeg ikke kan se ind i,
når du er hos mig.

Jeg skal forestille mig
dig livløs
i denne natkjole, se mit liv
uden dig,
men det kan jeg ikke nu


(from Synet af lys [The Sight of Light], Gyldendal, 2018)



translated from Danish by David McDuff

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