Olav Hauge

Crossing the Quagmire



These are the roots of all the trees that died,
that's why you can walk
dry-shod across the quagmire.
Roots like these stay firm a long time,
they may have lain here for centuries.
Under the moss, there is still
some dark remnant of them.
They are still here and
carry you safely across.

When you push out onto the mountain lake,
you suddenly sense the memory - the cold corpse
of the man who drowned himself, he helps
hold up your frail boat.
He, the insane one, trusted his life
to water and eternity.


trns. by Olav Grinde

catalog