~ Albert Camus
~ Paul Celan, from “Corona” in Poems, trans. Michael Hamburger
Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by. Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine; Whoever has no house now, will never have one. - Rainer Maria Rilke
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,
and on the meadows let the wind go free.
grant them a few more warm transparent days,
urge them on to fulfillment then, and press
the final sweetness into the heavy wine.
Whoever is alone will stay alone,
will sit, read, write long letters through the evening,
and wander along the boulevards, up and down,
restlessly, while the dry leaves are blowing.
my favorite translation, by Stephen Mitchell
