By KRISTIAN LETH. From Før og efter videnskab (2014) Translated by Anna Thyregod Wilcks. . . It’s a liberating wind which isn’t cold or cutting to the bone as such often do in this country The forgotten dream of spring But the wind is strong I’m speechless today You called it a gift from spring I want to weep, But when I woke this morning There’s no ending And you won’t read this poem I need to open a window |
Det er en befriende vind Forårets glemte drøm Men vinden er stærk Jeg er målløs i dag Du kaldte det en forårsgave Jeg har lyst til at græde Men da jeg vågnede i morges Der er ikke nogen slutning Og du læser ikke det her digt Jeg bliver nødt til at åbne et vindue |
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KRISTIAN LETH —(b.1980) is an award-winning Danish poet, writer and musician now living in New York. Educated at the Danish Academy of Creative Writing (Forfatterskolen) in Copenhagen, he published his first book of poetry in 2002. Leth has now published eight books in total of which half are books of poetry. His literary career includes works of both fiction and nonfiction and his most recent book, En vej ud af tågen (Gladiator, 2022), is a contemplative combination of a memoir and essay. As a member of the band The William Blakes, Leth writes and sings the lyrics. He has also released four solo albums and composes scores and soundtracks for films and television.
ANNA THYREGOD WILCKS — (b.1999) is a recent English graduate from the University of York and a translator of Danish. From Denmark originally, she now lives and works in Edinburgh. She is the recipient of a first-time entrant commendation in the open category of the Stephen Spender Prize 2022. Her undergraduate dissertation focused on the works of Danish punk poet Michael Strunge, and it was one of the translations from this dissertation which received a commendation from the Stephen Spender Prize.