popedkar

KARTOFLERNE	THE POTATOES
Inge Pedersen	trans. Marilyn Nelson (from Danish)
Hospital. I synkende gule haver. Vand der står stille under træerne. I en hvid seng ligger min udødelige far. Bag de lukkede øjne har vi travlt med at grine smide blade op i luften så det regner med guld. Når vi løber fosser det om fødderne. Om aftenen river vi affaldet sammen laver bål. I luften over flammerne skrælles hans ansigt vibrerende, nøgent hans blik i mit før det størkner. Kartoflerne i asken er til mig.	Hospital. In sinking yellow gardens. Water stands still under the trees. In a white bed lies my immortal father. Behind our closed eyes we are busily laughing throwing leaves into the air to make gold rain. When we run our feet swish. Come evening we rake the litter together, make a bonfire. In the air above the flames his face is peeled vibrating, naked his glance in mine before it congeals. The potatoes in the ashes are for me.