POETRY

Artworks and poetry: Kirsten Haabeth 2018-2023

Poetry translated by Hilde Morris

GAMMEL STI

Henger verden ennå sammen

hvem vet
tåke kommer fort

men på den gamle stien
med velkjente steiner og røtter
blåbærris langs kantene
og bekken
like ved

der
tar vi ett steg av gangen
og finner
fram

2023

FERD

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på speilblank flate

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kjenner dypet
driver sakte

nølende på siste ferden
til en islagt
frossen
bredd

Ytterkant


Og så noen linjer om november
som knapt eksisterer
tømt for farge


høstens ytterkant overrasker likevel


gjenglemt frukt
på naken grein

rødt og svart

August

Close by the moon
we′re far from earth

a shine

while boats slowly
leave the ports
to meet the sky
with flashing signals

out there

at sea somewhere

Then I set out to swim
with the moon
now it sails away
to a hiding in clouds

stay with me
moon

remain at the mountain ridge
nice and round

I need your escort
till morning comes

Time

Now time flies on
past sand and beaches
across the sea

to brighter coasts
before it joins

for a while on earth

with the one
who wanders

alone out there

Closing time passed
yet someone arrives
knocking on locked doors
listening to echoes of voices long gone

finding a podium

The Little Orchestra

The little orchestra has set the stage
uniforms donned
conductor’s baton raised

soon!
the train will thunder into the station
tone deaf, untuned, full

play!
for teeming chaos
for those running blindly,
hither and dither

play!
For overfilled platforms
loudspeaker voices
and busy bluster

play!
for the lonely and mourning hearts
who have lost the sparkling gift of joy

play!

For
now
the train
thunders in
to the station

now!

Long Distance

We are not homeless

but homeless
with infinite space
to roam

only seldom do we see
face to face

Two at the station

The moment passed
the train left
leaving two at the station

they found a crossing
the right track
bound for home

some seconds of empty silence

the light was left behind
on the platform

Somewhere Along the Line

Somewhere along the line
noted in the passing
forgotten

still

the music
follows the tracks

leaving
some notes

does not
disappear

Beyond the Picture

Beyond the picture
between the lines,
in the silence
the pauses and the parentheses

The Waiting

From my window
I glimpse someone
waiting for
the daylight

perhaps a gust of wind
will invite the dainty leaves
to dance along the streets

perhaps hurried footsteps
will give the morning hope

but now
in the quiet of the night

nothing

Shadow Dialogue

Voices in the dark
behind doors
under bridges

dialogue along the roads,
across the borders
along the walls
barely heard
finely tuned

She is Sleeping

she is sleeping
will not awaken
cover with a blanket
take care

Yellow Asphalt

stories
not heard, not told
etched into
yellow asphalt

Before Departure

Before departure
limbo
no man’s land
the platform on the other side
nearly empty

happiness
is not allowed
here

take me along!

take me along
take me along
take me along
like a song
like a heartbeat
along the railway tracks
miles away
through open landscapes
until I can breathe

again

Outskirts

Outskirts
what remained when we left

drawn to another center
we hoped to find
flower fields
wider views
romping grounds

now who colours the place we left
climbs on the monkey bars
plays ball between structures
skips on one foot
in dangerous play
on the railroad tracks

Arrival with No Port

Arrival with no port
no speeches
no brass fanfares
the mayor is off on a cruise
the band is on a tour

Signal

A signal
to the other side
is received
a warning, a shout without words

then

silence spreads
as nighttime falls

En Route

En route to another place
rhythmic and blind
nonstop

beyond the
frames
you leave
the scene

gone!

Artworks and poetry: Kirsten Haabeth 2018-2020

Poetry translated by Hilde Morris 2020