Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Sirkka Turkka

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at night

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at nights
dogs tune their cloven violins.
I do not let sorrow come,
I do not let it near.
A thousand feet of snow over my heart.
I mumble a lot to myself, in the street
I sing aloud.
Sometimes I see myself in passing, with a hat, perfect food
for winds, with some thought or other aslant.
I talk about death, when I mean life. I walk with my papers
in a mess, I don’t own a single theory, only a swearing dog.
When I ask for liquor, I’m offered ice-cream,
I may be a Spaniard, with my hairline
low like this, indeed:
I may not be from these parts.
I sweat, trying to talk, once and a while
I tremble.
Almost more than for my death, I mourn for my birth.
And all I ask for
is a thousand feet of snow over my heart.

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at night

Tähdet ovat taas kuin itkuinen balladi, ja aina iltaisin
koirat virittävät haljenneita viulujaan.
En anna surun tulla,
en päästä sitä lähelle.
Tuhat metriä lunta sydämen päälle.
Mutisen paljon itsekseni, kadulla
laulan ääneen.
Näen itseni joskus ohimennen, päässä hattu, oikea tuulen
ruoka, ja jokin ajatus kallellaan.
Puhun kuolemasta, kun tarkoitan elämää. Kuljen paperit
sekaisin, en omista yhtään teoriaa, vain kiroilevan koiran.
Kun pyydän viinaa, minulle tarjoillaan jäätelöä,
taidan sittenkin olla espanjalainen, tukanraja
tällä tavoin alhaalla, todellakaan:
en taida olla täältä päin.
Hikoilen ja yritän puhua, välillä taas
tärisen.
Melkein enemmän kuin kuolemaa, suren syntymääni.
Ja kaikki mitä pyydän
on tuhat metriä lunta sydämen päälle.
Close

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at night

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at nights
dogs tune their cloven violins.
I do not let sorrow come,
I do not let it near.
A thousand feet of snow over my heart.
I mumble a lot to myself, in the street
I sing aloud.
Sometimes I see myself in passing, with a hat, perfect food
for winds, with some thought or other aslant.
I talk about death, when I mean life. I walk with my papers
in a mess, I don’t own a single theory, only a swearing dog.
When I ask for liquor, I’m offered ice-cream,
I may be a Spaniard, with my hairline
low like this, indeed:
I may not be from these parts.
I sweat, trying to talk, once and a while
I tremble.
Almost more than for my death, I mourn for my birth.
And all I ask for
is a thousand feet of snow over my heart.

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at night

Stars are again like a teary ballad, and at nights
dogs tune their cloven violins.
I do not let sorrow come,
I do not let it near.
A thousand feet of snow over my heart.
I mumble a lot to myself, in the street
I sing aloud.
Sometimes I see myself in passing, with a hat, perfect food
for winds, with some thought or other aslant.
I talk about death, when I mean life. I walk with my papers
in a mess, I don’t own a single theory, only a swearing dog.
When I ask for liquor, I’m offered ice-cream,
I may be a Spaniard, with my hairline
low like this, indeed:
I may not be from these parts.
I sweat, trying to talk, once and a while
I tremble.
Almost more than for my death, I mourn for my birth.
And all I ask for
is a thousand feet of snow over my heart.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère