Edith Södergran (1892-1923) was born in Saint Petersburg and was influenced by Russian Futurist and Symbolist poets, whence her depressive Northern images.
Inheriting her father’s disease, she died of tuberculosis very early, aged only 31.
Jag såg ett träd som var större än alla andra (I saw a tree that was bigger than all others)
och hängde fullt av oåtkomliga kottar (it was hung all over by the unattainable cones);
jag såg en stor kyrka med öppna dörrar (I saw a big church with open doors)
och alla som kommo ut voro bleka och starka (and all those who were going out were bleak and strong)
och färdiga att dö (and ready to die);
jag såg en kvinna som leende och sminkad (I saw a woman who, smiling and in a make-up)
kastade tärning om sin lycka (was throwing dice about her luck)
och såg att hon förlorade (and I saw her lose).
En krets var dragen kring dessa ting (a circle was painted around these things)
den ingen överträder (and no one trespassed it).
First published in the Levinarium Telegram Channel (now closed and deleted)