Christine Lavant Poems

ICH HOERE KOMMEN den schweren Mond,
ich hoere gehen den leichten Schlaf,
mein Gedaechtnis schleift alle Messer
am Stein des Gedenkens.
...

WENN DU MICH einlaesst, bevor deine Haehne erwachen,
werde ich dienen fuer dich in den knoechernen Haus,
will die Herztrommel schlagen, den Atem dir schoepfen
und dreimal die geistliche Rose begiessen
am Morgen, am Mittag, am Abend.
...

LET ME IN before your cockerel wakes
and I will serve you in the house of bones,
beat the heart's drum, create your breath
and water the sacred rose three times,
morning, noon, and evening.
...

ZERSCHLAGE DIE GLOCKE in meinem Gehoer,
durchschneide den Knoten in meiner Kehle,
erwaerme mir mein erdrosseltes Herz
und mache die Augaepfel zeitig.
...

SHATTER THE BELL in my ear,
slash the knot in my throat,
warm my stifled heart
and ripen my eyeballs.
...

WHO WILL HELP me starve this night
and all the nights to come?
The round moon traces a huge curve
far away from me, I am too thin for it already.
...

SINCE TODAY, but forever
I know: This earth is really warm -
the burning I return to the nettle
and to the hedgehog its spines.
...

SINCE TODAY, but forever
I know: This earth is really warm -
the burning I return to the nettle
and to the hedgehog its spines.
...

I HEAR THE HEAVY MOON approaching,
I hear shallow sleep walking,
my memory sharpens all knives
on the memory stone.
...