I: Edith Södergran

I am foreign in this land,
which lies deep beneath the oppressive sea,
the sun gazes in with winding rays
and the air flows between my hands.
They tell me I was born in captivity–
no face would be familiar to me here.
Was I a stone, one which was cast here to the bottom?
Was I a fruit, which was too heavy for its branch?
I lie here in wait at the foot of the wuthering tree,
how shall I ascend the slippery stems?
Up above the lurching crowns meet,
there I want to sit and keep watch
for the smoke from my homeland’s chimneys…
Previous
Previous

See The Rider: Ma Rainey

Next
Next

A Little Called Pauline: Gertrude Stein